The family of 2001 parliament attack convict Afzal Guru who was hanged on 9 February in Tihar jail rejected the government's consent to visit his grave demanding instead the return of his dead body .
Rejecting the centre's offer, Afzal Guru's brother Aijaz Ahmed Guru said, "Why should we go to Tihar? A Muslim can offer Zinaza (burial prayer) from anywhere. Our demand is that the body should be handed over to us so that we can take it home for proper burial according to Islamic traditions." reported DNA.
The government on Tuesday gave consent to Guru's family to visit and pray over his grave in the jail premises.
"We have no problem if immediate family of Afzal Guru wants to come and offer prayers at his grave in Tihar jail," Home Secretary R K Singh told PTI.
The government had even offered to make all arrangements for their visit to Delhi from Guru's hometown of Sopore, but the family refused. "We will go to Delhi on our own, if it comes to that. We do not want any largesse from the Government. The only thing we want from them is to return Afzal's body," said Guru's cousin, Mohammad Yasin.
Singh also said that the Guru's belongings will be handed over to his family members.
Claiming that the family was allowed to collect Guru's belongings from jail only after the curfew over the Kashmir valley was lifted, Aijaz Ahmed Guru said,"There is a complete clampdown in our area. Our relations are unable to visit us to offer condolences."
The government is facing flak for hanging Guru without informing his family who reportedly heard of it through media reports.
Officials asserted that they a speed post letter which had reached the family only two days after his execution.
