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Jammu, Feb 11 (IANS) After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the wisdom of executing parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the main opposition People's Democratic Party in the state called India a "banana republic". Former chief minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is locked in competitive politics with the National Conference and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Monday evening issued a statement, accusing the central government of a "narrow-minded approach (that) has caused serious setbacks to the peace process". His statement reflected complete support for Afzal Guru, matching the sentiments that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed Sunday, a day after the execution, in interviews to TV channels. Mufti said: "It is no good to regret the inability of the government to deny Afzal's family a last mandatory meeting with him or deny his body to the family." Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said: "This reduces Mahatama Gandhi's country, the world's largest democracy and a genuine candidate for super power status, to a banana republic." Mufti was home minister of the country in the shortlived V.P. Singh government from 1989-1990. Mufti urged the central government to "roll back the draconian measures in Kashmir, which have caused a whole population to be imprisoned". He blamed Delhi for what has been happening in the Valley, claiming that law and order is a state subject and measures like curfew have been taken by Omar Abdullah.
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