Letters to the Editor

The law, its course149 Mohammad Afzal8217;s case has become something of a cause celebre. Some political parties have sought pardon for h...

The law, its course

038;149 Mohammad Afzal8217;s case has become something of a cause celebre. Some political parties have sought pardon for him, with J038;K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad adding his voice to the chorus. Mehbooba Mufti has pleaded against the death sentence saying it will further alienate Kashmiris from the mainstream. Yasin Malik of JKLF says that the ongoing Indo-Pak peace process will be affected if the death sentence is carried out. Any dilution of punishment would signal softness towards terrorism, says the BJP.

The arguments advanced by the political parties are ridiculous indeed. The rule of law in the criminal justice system does not work in conformity with the Indo-Pakistan peace process, nor must it consider the alienation or otherwise of any section of society. The learned judges have awarded the punishment after considering the evidence at hand. This case will neither determine whether or not normalcy returns to J038;K, nor can it decide the Indo-Pak peace process. Street protests and mob violence, public sentiments or political considerations should not be allowed to influence the law.

8212;S. Narayan, Mumbai

Not only RSS

038;149 In 8216;Politics and postures in the heartland8217; IE, October 3, Pradeep Kaushal might be correct in his assessment of the situation that warranted the removal of the ban on government employees of MP from taking part in RSS shakhas. But the reality in a democratic society is different. Most of the unions in all government departments, universities, colleges, even the police in West Bengal, are affiliated to one political party or another. Thus they should either not be allowed to join these unions or removed from their respective jobs. All our political parties go against the secular provisions of our Constitution by indulging in religious activities of different kinds. Given the scenario in today8217;s India, it is short-sighted to target only the RSS.

8212;G.S. Kulkarni, Delhi

Proof jitters

038;149 Your headline puts it this way: 8216;Will act on proof, but no handing over: Pak8217; IE, October 3. What an irony that while the Mumbai police have done a thorough investigation, Pakistan has already rubbished the investigation without even receiving any information from India. That the investigating agencies in Mumbai have done a rigorous job and exposed the perpetrators has evidently scared Pakistan.

8212;Kedarnath R. Aiyar, Mumbai

Gandhi8217;s way

038;149 How about applying Gandhiji8217;s non-violence and satyagraha to put an end to global terror? Let there be satyagraha and fasting against terrorism at all places where terrorists are suspected to have their base camps and training centres. People of all religions of the world must join this worldwide movement.

8212;Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi

Incomplete verdict

038;149 In recent times, the judiciary has played a pro-active role which has often helped the common man. However, both the high court and the Supreme Court while issuing eviction and demolition orders pertaining to unauthorised and illegal structures, have not initiated any action against the real perpetrators, that is, the builders as well as officers who connived and allowed such structures to come up in the first place. Unless action is initiated against these people, penalising gullible buyers is like punishing the innocent while allowing the guilty to go scot free.

8212;Phiroze Amroliwalla, Mumbai