There has
been wide endorsement of the Supreme courts upholding of death sentence for the lone surviving
Pakistani terrorist of 9/11.It is claimed that the sentence will sent signals
to the terrorists and their bosses across the border that waging war against
India will invite severe retribution. A fascinating argument! But has no proof
amongst terror perpetrators that they are hounded by the fear of death. But behold,
they will suffocate if freedom is denied and are incarcerated. It is not death
that they fear but it is the dream of freedom in Paradise that they believe will
be theirs if they put to sword apostates, that drive them to their savagery.
India may have the wherewithal in conventional terms to be in hot pursuit of the terror wings across the border. But such an attempt we all know will be inviting an all out nuclear conflagration between two nuclear armed neighbours. Hence the weak kneed reactions from us.
In my fair
bit of reading, I have not in any Indian mythical treatise stumbled upon an
instance where a man or a woman was executed, or given capital punishment. “An
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, was not an Indian moral. There have
been many wars waged and stories mentioned in Indian mythology, but an execution
or taking away life as punishment – NO. Then , on what premises dose the so
called custodians of Hindu Dharma and Indian culture the VHP, the Sangh Parivar
and the political clan of BJP clamour and cry hoarse for death for Kasab and
even for Afsal Guru who we all know was given a kangaroo trial in the
Parliament shoot out case? "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", was a Jewish dictum
and then followed by Islam. Christ did not preach snuffing life as punishment
for misdeeds. It is the archaic fallout from the Semitic faith that hangs on.
The mythical heroes of Indian mythology who we see as incarnations of Gods have
not spoken in favor of death penalty.
.Our longing
for revenge and vengeance will be satiated when Kasab is hanged. But will his
death deter potential terrorists who are blinded by fanaticism and
indoctrination by extreme religious elements, both from foreign soil and from within
from committing terror in future?
No is the
answer. We all know that. The clamour for Kasab's death is only the off shoot
of our thirst for vengeance- It is the
beastly instinct in Man that drove Kasab and his cahoots to dance the macabre
dance of death in Mumbai and it is the same ghastly instinct that we long to
quench by putting Kasab to death
Let the lone
surviving terrorist be incarcerated for life. And let that be the beginning of
a new thinking. Is it not better to convey that we value life than the
terrorists who commit barbaric acts in the name of God and for God? When an extreme
form of penalty such as taking away life will not be a deterrent, do we have to
continue to embrace that barbaric punishment?
Let Kasab
spend his life incarcerated and rue the moment he chose to be prey to the fanatic
elements who indoctrinated him to commit the horrendous acts. Let his supposed
entry into Paradise be delayed by Nature until he withers naturally.
14 comments:
Against the death penalty, in certain cases and almost certainly in the case of terrorists/serial killers I think it gives them the status of martyr.
Death, they say is a many splendor ed thing- what may be meted out as punishment to someone may actually be used to convey to the world of terror the message of martyrdom because a person who we may consider as terrorist may be a hero to some other group. Denial of death is therefore the best way to keep the punishment alive. I do feel strongly about what these guys did but the question is - will all those dead people come back to life if these guys die?
In my opinion,despite public opinion,congress will not hang him.
A misguided party is depending on minority votes even at the cost of national security
Not that I have any hope that KAsab will be hanged.. but do you really think that the tax payer's money should be diverted to keep this criminal alive?
Who knows what status this criminal has in the books of the Jihadis.. this would be enough for many to stage another airline hijack or attack.
As you said, this may not deter more terrorists or jihadist from waging their criminal war but let us get rid off the rubbish. Or let him be housed by our ministers. They can take turn in hosting this crimnal at their own expense.
I just hope there is no hostage game played and the government is forced to let out this guy.
Moreover, we are told that he has no remorse at all for the killings he did... if it was my child who got killed and if the killer has no remorse at all I would not want him to exist at all.. who know if he is planning to kill more...
.
@ Petty Witter,
This is not death penalty as such that I wanted to discuss, but our urge to see blood- spill blood for blood.
There cannot be death penalty in certain cases. Don’t you think so?
@ Meera Sunderajan,
You have a valid point here .Will the lost ones come back? But it is not for the lost ones or for the chances of them coming back that we cry murder to the murders, it is to feel the vicarious pleasure of seeing the pain inflicted on the other too.
And as you mentioned a dead terrorist rises from the dead as martyr.
@ B.K.Chiowla,
Yes you are right. Congress will keep this death sentence to garner mileage in elections and so will the BJP. But what is your take here? You did not mention that.
@ Happy Kitten,
Rubbish cannot be gotten rid until we cease from creating them. If there be a hijack in the sky again with the demand to release Kasab, then it will only tell of our inept security system. It is a decade since Sept 11 WTC attacks, the first on US soil by terror groups from outside. And remember since that incident there has not been one terror strike in the USA sponsored by external terror elements.
Your suggestion of housing the terrorists in our prisons with the ministers is in fact ridicule to the terrorists.
Look you mentioned about this man, Kasab’s lack of remorse. Why and how will he feels remorse. When hate is splashed all over him and he is from childhood indoctrinated like in the former Soviet Union to hate anyone who does not agree to their philosophy and here, other than Moslems and to believe that a person of another faith is a kaffir (I guess his scriptures say so) how will he have bile rolling in him in disgust of murder and mayhem?
When you say that if it was your child who fell prey to this man you would want him dead, I’m afraid is rather unfortunate observation. If so why should we clamour for death? None of our (here yours or my) dear ones were victims?
I’m not asking star class treatment or national pardon for Kasab, but death penalty per se will make us no different from him. Let him languish in prison and rue his life. Let his journey to heaven be delayed.
Tax payer will have to cough up money to ensure that such elements when in the net are never let out free. A lifelong internment and denial of freedom is a greater agony than death which these men most willingly accept.
@ Sujata,
Oh no certainly not. This guy will not be let free.
I think Sujata has a point there. We have done it before. The longer Kasab is kept alive, the higher the chances of him being traded for something else.
We are living in a deprived society; Kasab is an example, so is Modi. So is Kalmadi and the host of criminals that rule this country. So is the society that cries for Kasab's blood. Will it end there? There will be more Godse-s and more Kasab-s.
I say, let that man go free, back to Pakistan. Letting him languish in our jails, at the cost of millions of rupees for security, is a waste. If Kasab repents, if Pakistan repents - fine. What difference does it all make?
I feel strongly that this person has to be hanged.
No body feels safe despite so much security,in the US. Their attitude towards Islam and Islamic countries have not done them any good, they live in constant fear.
Kasab must die without any delay, though as you have pointed out, there is every chance, he may be forever behind bar. Regarding another blackmail/ attack/ hijack it can happen even if is behind bars for the rest of his life or otherwise.
Anil: Why dd US kill Osama and dump his body somewhere.. why dint they keep him alive in their jails?
As for our security, as long as we dont hope to be like US, it is better to take precaution so that we dont end up losing more lives in the name of this one criminal.
Yes.. I did not lose a child but maybe we should take into consideration those who lost a child.
It is better to end this drama instead of keeping Kasab as a political pawn.
Even otherwise, if our courts never meant to see through this case why in the world did they conduct it? Just to show the world that India is a democracy? Bull shit!
@ Balachandran,
"What difference does it all make? “That is a moot question.
If every deprived man take to the ways of Kasab what will become of society itself?
If we trade Kasab for something else like hostages, that emphsises that we are pliable, weak and stupid!
In the 1970s the former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the RED Brigade terror group and they tried to trade him for their men in Italian prisons. Italy did not relent and Mr Moro was killed by his captors. We have a history (recent) when the Home minister of this country flew in a Jet to Kabul with a terror king pin to hand him over to the Taliban for the passengers of an Indian Airlines Aircraft.
My question is will death to Kasab eliminate terror from our land? If it will not what is the logic in killing him?
@ rama,
My reply on Balachandran’s comments may answer part of your reply too.
Yes USA lives in fear and so do we. The irony about the USA is that Muslims had comparatively very good standing in the American society until the WTC attacks. In fact they were free to practice their faith, something which is denied to an American or others in many Islamic countries.
Why must Kasab be hanged? If that doesn’t deter another terror attack?
@ Happy Kitten,
I’m afraid I incensed you?
Osama was the kingpin and the ideology. Kasab is a pawn who fell the wrong way. Did Osama killing reduce the chances of terror on society? Though I have no remorse in his surprise death. America had announced that Osama will be considered a renegade and a threat and will be dealt with accordingly.
Kasab and his ilk are just a fraction of the extent to which anarchy can be inflicted. We have far greater threats from within.
Does killing a child of a murder make amends for his killing of our child? Here my point of argument is on capital punishment itself.
“Even otherwise, if our courts never meant to see through this case why in the world did they conduct it? Just to show the world that India is a democracy? Bull shit!”
Look what ever be the inadequacies and hypocrisies played out in the name of democracy in India, believe me that it is the better option to an Orwellian society. At least you and I can openly curse and criticize the law and the men who are its makers and caretakers. We can speak our mind. And not be frightened and scared of silencing and annihilation.
The course, the due course of law and jurisprudence is any time necessary even if it means reprieve to a criminal or a delay in his conviction.
.
Strong topic. If Kasab is hanged, what after that? What message are we sending to the organization that crapped his innocent mind and left him to fend for himself?
Hanging or not hanging Kasab is not going to solve the problem? He is only a lowly guy caught in the whirl of fanaticism.
Anil: Sorry for the strong language....
Kasab if hanged or not is not going to change anything.. but I prefer that this headache is over with... let us not compare him to Osama but to a cold blood murderer who murdered innocents. Let his punishment be appropriate....
@Insignia,
Yes you are right. The fellow did a heinous crime. He has to be kept out of society, because he has no remorse. In fact he will exercise his beastly fanaticism more violently if given a chance. Killing him, will that solve all problems? Then yes for the greater common good yes.
But the fact is we smelt blood and longing for blood. We claim to do it by the sanction of democracy, jurisprudence and the due process of law.
Post a Comment