Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Clemency appeal

This refers to the photograph of demonstrators throwing stones at the police in Srinagar (Oct .7) while protesting the death penalty for Mohammed Afzal Guru in the Parliament attack case. Is it proper for the citizens of a country to oppose the judgment of the highest court thus? Is the clemency plea by a democratically elected Chief Minister for a convicted terrorist who has no faith in our judicial system justified? Does the state plan to commute the death sentence of a terrorist because of frenzied demands by a group of people or to appease a particular community?

A. Ram Mohan,
Hyderabad

* * *

The photograph is significant. Clearly, the sympathies of the protesters do not lie with the authorities in New Delhi, who claim to protect and defend Kashmir as an integral part of India.

B.N. Gururaj,
Bangalore

* * *

It is indeed appalling to see protests taking place in Kashmir against the death sentence. The issue seems to have turned extraconstitutional.

Our nationalism has proved vulnerable to religious and regional emotions.

L. Vydyanathan,
Chennai

* * *

If Afzal Guru's death sentence is commuted, India will once again send the message that it is a soft state and that the life of a terrorist is more valuable than that of an ordinary citizen.

Rejoy Krishnan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

A terrorist should be treated as a terrorist and punished. And the punishment should be such that terrorists do not take comfort from the thinking that they can find enough sympathisers to plead their cause. One hopes the President will keep the larger issue of national security in mind while disposing of the clemency petition.

Ujjal Borah,
Guwahati

* * *

If Afzal did not get a fair trial, as alleged by some intellectuals, why did they not file an intervention petition seeking a better defence counsel? Besides, as readers have pointed out, Afzal has not regretted his role in the Parliament attack. Sure, the death penalty has ceased to be a deterrent. But so have all forms of punishment. Should we scrap the IPC and the Cr PC?

C.V. Subbaraman,
Ahmedabad

* * *

The Afzal issue is unfolding in a cinematic way, with his wife sharing her emotional stories with the President. How can a terrorist mastermind be an inspiration for his son to become a doctor? What about the dreams of those that were shattered in the blink of an eye on December 13, 2001?

B.T. Ram Mohan,
Davangere, Karnataka

* * *

If Afzal is granted clemency, what will be the impact on the morale of the security personnel? Will they not feel frustrated over the fact that terrorists can hold the nation to ransom?

Can a government that recommends the commutation of a terrorist's death sentence be trusted to safeguard the country?

Hilda Raja,
Chennai

* * *

But for the sacrifice by the security personnel, the politicians who are now pleading for the conspirator would not have been alive. Afzal, who does not consider himself an Indian, does not deserve to live after plotting the subversive act. He is a traitor, who has waged war against the state.

G. Vijayalakshmi,
Chennai

* * *

Afzal alive is more dangerous than Afzal dead. The argument that his execution will make him a hero is unacceptable. Only those who are behind the Parliament attack will glorify his death. The people will only be happy because they have been clamouring for decades that the government put terrorism down with an iron hand.

S. Preethy,
Madurai

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