Fresh mercy petition from MPs, ex-judges and activists

Shatrughan Sinha and expelled BJP MP Ram Jethmalani are among those who have requested the President to commute the death sentence.

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‘We most humbly request your Excellency to consider the case of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and spare him from the noose of death for a crime that was masterminded by someone else to communally divide the country,’ the petition reads.

A fresh mercy petition for Yakub Memon filed with the President includes the signatures of eminent members of the legal fraternity, academics and MPs from parties including the BJP. Shatrughan Sinha and expelled BJP MP Ram Jethmalani are among those who have requested the President to commute the death sentence, saying there are “substantive and fresh grounds” that can be considered on merits.

“We most humbly request your Excellency to consider the case of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and spare him from the noose of death for a crime that was masterminded by someone else to communally divide the country,” the petition reads. “Grant of mercy in this case will send out a message that while this country will not tolerate acts of terrorism, as a nation we are committed to equal application of the power of mercy and values of forgiveness, and justice. Bloodletting and human sacrifice will not make this country a safer place; it will, however, degrade us all.”

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The BJP, meanwhile, stressed the execution was decided after a legal process and should be honoured. Spokesperson Sambit Patra said his comments are meant for all, whether they are in politics or not. “Anyone and everyone in this country should respect the law of this country. No one is above the law of the country. The case has been going on in various courts of law for last 20 years… Everyone should refrain from commenting on the process of the law.” Asked about the fresh petition, he said he would not like to comment on it as it is with the President.

Those who have signed the petition include MPs Mani Shankar Aiyar (Congress), Majeed Memon (NCP), Sitaram Yechury (CPM), D Raja (CPI), K T S Tulsi and H K Dua (nominated) and T Siva (DMK), former CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI(ML-Liberation) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Brinda Karat (CPM) and filmmakers and actors Naseeruddin Shah, Mahesh Bhatt and M K Raina, and Tushar Gandhi. It also included retired judges Panachand Jain, H S Bedi, P B Sawant, H Suresh, K P Siva Subramaniam, S N Bhargava, K Chandru, and Nagmohan Das, lawyer Indira Jaising, academics Irfan Habib, Arjun Dev, and N Jha, and social activists Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze and John Dayal.

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