BJP, Cong hail decision

The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the execution of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon evoked mixed reactions from political parties with the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress hailing the court’s decision but the left and a few regional parties, including AIMIM, protesting the order. Soon after the Supreme Court cleared the hanging of Yakub, six political parties including the CPI (M), CPI and MDMK jointly urged the Centre not to hang him.  

“Capital punishment must be abolished in India. Central Government should come forward to rescind the death sentence of Memon as a top official of RAW had said that he should not be hanged since he helped India,” a resolution adopted at a meeting of the parties said.  Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam were the other three parties in the movement. 

Branding those who opposed the death sentence to Yakub as “mentally challenged” in need of treatment, the BJP said it was wrong for “some people to have politicised the whole issue or for giving it a communal colour”. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said it is a “big day” for the victims of the 1993 Mumbai blasts and a sense of justice prevails today. He termed it as a “victory” of law.

The Congress saw a “conclusion of a judicial process” in the Supreme Court’s decision, noting that full justice would be done to Mumbai blast victims when the Government brings back Tiger Memon from Pakistan.“Indian National Congress looks at it as shape of conclusion of a judicial process as also partial justice to the 1993 Bombay blast victims. Full justice would be done when the Government of the day is to bring back Tiger Memon from Pakistan where he has been given shelter,” AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Hailing the verdict, Shiv Sena noted that all have said in one voice that Memon should not be given mercy because it is the voice of the citizens of the country. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said law will take its own course.However, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi too appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider the mercy petition of the death row convict as a “fitting tribute” to former President APJ Abdul Kalam whose “conscientious opposition” to capital punishment is widely known.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said rejection of the plea is a “setback”. Owaisi demanded that capital punishment be also given to those who committed the “original sin” — demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.Owaisi stuck to his stand that the capital punishment was given to the Mumbai attack accused because he had “no political backing”. 

CPI protested the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Yakub’s plea saying the time has come to reconsider all laws to abolish death penalty. “An eye for an eye and tooth for tooth cannot be the philosophy of Indian jurisprudence. Time has come to reconsider all laws to ultimately abolish death penalty,” party’s National Secretary D Raja said.