Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy,
President of the Janata Party.
I welcome the Supreme Court judgment delivered by Justice G.S. Singhvi upholding the death sentence of all those who applied for mercy for the various murders they had committed, which includes the conspirators of Rajiv Gandhi assassination. The main plea made by these killers was that delay in the execution is a mitigating factor and hence their death sentence should be converted into life sentence. This is the most ridiculous argument every adduced in any court of law since the delay has only enabled these convicts to live on borrowed time.
It is also pathetic that at the time of killing of their victims, these killers all proclaimed proudly that they wanted to teach a lesson to the victims. Subsequently after the Court judgment directing that they should be given capital punishment, these petitioners abjectly sought mercy for their act of murder. As Mahatma Gandhi said non-violence requires courage while violence is act of cowards.
Indian society no more can be soft towards the pre-meditated killers. When the Supreme Court finally pronounces judgment in a murder case, it is necessary to execute it immediately, and unduly delay on frivolous mercy petitions. I congratulate the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee for having shown resolve in taking quick decision on such mercy petitions. Also I demand that Ms. Sonia Gandhi to explain why she wrote to the President of India to show mercy to her husband’s killers. No Indian widow would ever think of doing that.