An Urdu weekly published a letter, reportedly written by 2001 Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru, almost 20 days after he was hanged.
Guru wrote the letter in 2008 allegedly justifying the 13 December, 2001 Parliament attack. The letter was published in Qaumi Waqar, a bi-lingual publication.
The letter was sent to Qaumi Waqari editor Shabnum Qayoom three years ago, but was made public only now, claimed the weekly.
In the letter, Guru tells Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin that he does not regret carrying out the attack. Guru said that the 13 December attack was linked to the Kashmir issue and also urged Salahuddin not to consider it as a "conspiracy"
"I want to convey, through you, my humble request to Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin that he should not call the December 13 incident a conspiracy. The incident is linked to the Kashmir issue. If it is a conspiracy, then the whole armed resistance is a conspiracy," read the letter, according to Hindustan Times.
"When the Indian government, which has turned Kashmir into a graveyard, has no feeling of guilt, why should we feel guilty?"
"When they (rulers) do not feel ashamed of reinstating Army officers and Government functionaries involved in sex scandal and don't feel guilty on trampling democracy, freedom of expression and peaceful protests, why should we feel ashamed about December 13," the letter stated.
When asked why the letter was revealed three years later, Qayoom told Hindustan Times reasoned that he considered it an appropriate time to publish it.
"Guru had convinced us about his victimhood," Qayoom said. "I think the letter was written when he was disillusioned and had no hope of mercy. He wanted to claim responsibility and die as a mujahid.''
