Rumi Nations

I am against death punishment too. But I am in favor of death punishment for gargantuan-sized criminals such as Kasab, Raja, and Kalmadi. Let me see if I can explain that. Death punishment for Kasab seems to be such a no-brainer that no one would really give it a second thought nor would there be any need for writing columns about it. The usual homilies would be paid about the due process of law being followed and that would be it. That was my impression. And in due course, India being India, Kasab’s case would go to President Pranab and then perhaps the Congress Party will try to do Muslim pandering as it habitually does and Kasab’s fate might be left hanging like that of so many others’. And on each 26/11 anniversary, we would see the usual debates on the TV channels about why Kasab is still alive and blah blah. But no. That’s not how this has panned out. The against-death-punishment brigade has come out! Now THIS is something that I had not expected. I am not opposed t...

Although the High Court today agreed with the judgment of the lower court about the death sentence given to Kasab, I'm sure we are still some distance from the final denouement. The Supreme Court is still there. Most likely, it will agree with the opinion of the High Court as it does in most cases. And the villainy in this case was probably perpetrated in a rather public manner making it quite easy for the Court and the prosecutors and quite tough for the defense. Oh, and we should not forget that this is what passes for a fast trial in India. The usual humdrum trial takes far longer than Kasab's trial has taken. After the Supreme Court, there's the appeal to the President of India. The President likes to take a lot of time — historically. All in all, may be by November 26 next, Kasab will still be around and then there will be some hue and cry about why he is still around. Beyond that, I am not sure.

So, it's Death to the Infidel! Or, perhaps Death to the Traitor! Or, Death to the Murderer! Or, Death to the Terrorist! I don't know what sounds most potent ... I am only referring to Kasab getting the death sentence for his role in 26/11. I wonder how much of an impact this event will have from the perspective of one hundred years. How will people remember this incident? In this vast country, with its myriad tumults, I am sure this will be no more than a footnote known only to or remembered only by a few professional historians of the 22nd century. The more immediate question though is this. When will Kasab be actually hanged as per the punishment dished out? The Bombay HC is there and then the Supreme Court of India. So, a conservative estimate would be at least one year. Check with me in one year's time and then we'll see if I have been right or wrong — too optimistic or too pessimistic. Remember that the guys who got the death penalty in connection with the Parliame...