Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Patil’s remarks

It was shocking to read the reported statement of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil that it is unfair to demand the execution of Afzal Guru while asking for Sarabjit Singh’s life to be spared. Afzal is a hardcore terrorist who waged a war against the state by attacking Parliament, and has been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court. Sarabjit’s is a case of mistaken identity and he can, at best, be termed a suspect. Had there been even a bit of conclusive evidence of his involvement in the bombings in Lahore, Pakistan would not have kept him languishing in jail for so long.

Judish Raj,

Hyderabad

Both Sarabjit and Afzal are Indians. Sarabjit’s family is on record saying that his release should not be in exchange for terrorists. If Sarabjit is released, he will come home to India. Will Afzal go to Pakistan if his life is spared?

N. Mohan,

Chennai

Mr. Patil’s comments have come at the most inopportune time — when our Foreign Minister and his team are in Islamabad for bilateral discussions. Afzal has gone through all the legal processes and the highest court has upheld his death sentence. His review petition and curative petition alleging unfair trial have also been rejected by the Supreme Court. Afzal is an Indian whose fate will be decided by the President as has happened to hundreds of other criminals on the death row before him. How can the Home Minister even comment on the case in such a situation?

Subramanyam Sridharan,

Chennai

Mr. Patil, it seems, is unable to differentiate between Sarabjit Singh’s mistaken identity and Afzal Guru’s proven terrorist identity.

Vijay Kumar Bhargava,

Karwar

What is the message Mr. Patil is trying to send to terrorists, Indian and foreign? That they are safe as long as some Indian is detained in Pakistan or other foreign jails?

P.S. Sundaram,

Hyderabad

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu