Published: Friday, May 7, 2010, 0:59 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_govt-in-no-hurry-process-may-take-up-to-two-years_1380035
A quick death for Ajmal Kasab may be the overwhelming public sentiment, but the Centre is in no hurry to send the Pakistani gunman to the gallows.
By all indications, the government is not likely to interfere with the due process of law in the Bombay high court, and subsequently in the Supreme Court.
It does not want to create any impression that it is fast-tracking Kasab’s hanging or doing anything out of turn.
The statements made by Union ministers P Chidambaram, SM Krishna and Veerappa Moily and spokespersons of the ruling Congress hinted at fast-tracking the case, but left many crucial questions hanging.
“We did not create a Guantanamo Bay (referring to the facility created by the US to try terrorists). We did not create a military court. Kasab was tried in a normal civil court, except that the judge was designated a special judge,” said Union home minister Chidambaram in the Rajya Sabha.
He made no mention of hanging him early or strengthening the law to ensure that those involved in terror activities were not let
off easily.
Even if Kasab’s hanging is upheld by the Supreme Court, which will be at least a year-long process, the mercy petition is going to be a long-drawn affair.
There are 29 mercy petitions pending with the president.
Eight of them are related to terrorism and waging war against the country.
Even if the eight cases are clubbed with Kasab’s and given priority, the Mumbai terror convict cannot be hanged in the next two years.
Interestingly, the mercy petition of Afzal Guru, who has received the death sentence for attacking parliament in 2001, has not even reached the president for clemency.
Similar is the case of Nalini, who is guilty of killing late Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
The mercy petitions of three others in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case are still pending with the president.
Law minister Veerappa Moily, too, left the crucial question unanswered.
``The victims’ families want swift action and Kasab deserves more than that. If something more can be done it would be welcome,” he said.
External affairs minister SK Krishna was more guarded. ``The verdict could send the message to anyone wanting to wage a war against India that justice would be meted out him, after a fair trial.”
The stand of the ruling Congress was equally unclear when Manish Tiwari and Jayanti Natarajan said the verdict in the 26/11 case was a message to Pakistan that it cannot meddle in India’s affairs. It was also a message to the terrorists that they will face the same fate as Ajmal Kasab.
Beyond this, the ruling establishment was not keen to let out its position on how to pursue the issue of Kasab’s hanging. The BJP leaders have already demanded fast-tracking the judicial and mercy petition process to hang Kasab.
