Former Vice President Hamid Ansari has sparked controversy for dodging a question on the Parliament attack terrorist Afzal Guru, who was executed in 2013 during the UPA government.
The exchange took place during a podcast in which Mishra questioned Ansari about past controversies, including the 2001 Parliament attack and events at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where Ansari had previously taught.
Once an Islamist, always an Islamist. Hamid Ansari: Gives a clean chit to anti-India leftists who raised anti-India slogans at JNU, saying “What can be done if 5,000 people raise slogans together?” Ran away just seconds after being asked whether Afzal Guru was a terrorist or not. This is the namuna the UPA made Vice President of India. Imagine.
— Political Kida (@PoliticalKida) October 23, 2026
During the conversation, Mishra asked Ansari about his views on Afzal Guru’s execution. Guru was convicted in connection with the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament and was hanged on February 9, 2013, after his mercy petition was rejected.
When Mishra asked whether Guru was a terrorist, Ansari replied, “How would I know?” He added that the government had punished Guru through the justice system and said the matter was over.
Hamid Ansari says the Afzal Guru case was never discussed at JNU
During the podcast, Mishra pointed out that Ansari had taught at JNU and asked him about the debate surrounding Afzal Guru’s execution. He noted that people held different views on the case, with some pointing to the court’s decision and others focusing on the need to stop terrorism.
Hamid Ansari said he had not given any judgment on the matter, adding that the issue was never discussed in the department where he worked at JNU.
“My work was in the Department of Investigation Affairs,” Ansari said, explaining that the case was never discussed there.
Mishra then reminded him that slogans had been raised at JNU in connection with Afzal Guru. In response, Ansari said the university had a large student community and that people could not be expected to remain silent.
“There is a community of 5,000 students. So slogans will be raised. You cannot silence them,” Ansari said.
Afzal Guru convicted in 2001 Parliament attack
Afzal Guru was convicted for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack, in which five terrorists attacked the Parliament complex in New Delhi. Nine people, including security personnel and a gardener, were killed in the attack, while all five attackers were also killed.
Guru was hanged at Delhi’s Tihar Jail in February 2013 after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence and his mercy petition was rejected by the President.
