Hmmm.. the issue's gone off the front page of all the newspapers for now. But I'd been thinking of writing about it since quite some time.
I do not understand why we turn terrorists and murderers into heroes. Putting them all over the front pages, acting like great injustice has been done to them. Before this it was with Dhananjoy Chatterjee. I remember the media coverage he got... that man had gone through a proper trial right upto the highest court and he was convicted for rape and murder for christ's sake!
Of course, there are debates on capital punishment, and to be honest I cannot decide which side I am on.. I just hope I never have to decide..
Well getting back to where I was... Fine, go ahead and debate as much as you want to. But do not turn them into heroes, or show them as if they're victims of some conspiracy. They are people who have committed heinous acts...and they deserve punishment!
Terrorism does not deserve any mercy, it deserves the highest punishment...And punishment is where this entire debate lies right..Death penalty or no death penalty? If someone has had a fair trial, been convicted by the highest court, and has committed such a heinous act then he deserves the highest punishment. And in India today, the highest punishment is death penalty.There is always a chance, however less it might be, that the person you are going to throw to the gallows is innocent and you are killing an innocent life.. Therefore, either you abolish death penalty altogether if you do not believe that the state has the power to take lives or you got to live with this truth...(wrote something on this once) But since that has not yet happened, should we belt out punishment based on regionality or religion? Being an Indian should come first before being a Kashmiri comes shouldn't it?
I do not understand why we turn terrorists and murderers into heroes. Putting them all over the front pages, acting like great injustice has been done to them. Before this it was with Dhananjoy Chatterjee. I remember the media coverage he got... that man had gone through a proper trial right upto the highest court and he was convicted for rape and murder for christ's sake!
Of course, there are debates on capital punishment, and to be honest I cannot decide which side I am on.. I just hope I never have to decide..
Well getting back to where I was... Fine, go ahead and debate as much as you want to. But do not turn them into heroes, or show them as if they're victims of some conspiracy. They are people who have committed heinous acts...and they deserve punishment!
Terrorism does not deserve any mercy, it deserves the highest punishment...And punishment is where this entire debate lies right..Death penalty or no death penalty? If someone has had a fair trial, been convicted by the highest court, and has committed such a heinous act then he deserves the highest punishment. And in India today, the highest punishment is death penalty.There is always a chance, however less it might be, that the person you are going to throw to the gallows is innocent and you are killing an innocent life.. Therefore, either you abolish death penalty altogether if you do not believe that the state has the power to take lives or you got to live with this truth...
31 comments:
hmn...I agree with u on that terrorists should not be made out to be heroes! that's as weird as anything!if not more! about capital punishment...well, like everyone I thought about it a lot...and I think tho no one has the right to take someone;s life...in some cases like terrorism, capital punishment seems appropriate to me at least!
and even if they are victims of conspiracy or not...certainly they knew wat they were doing! and a crime is a crime! it is quite baffling why the kashmiri people are against death penalty to this fellow!seriously, people sometimes amaze me!
i totally echo ur sentiments neha...like i wrote in comment in another fren'z blog "how can ppl decide this guys cause is bigger than the way he chose to act upon it?"...he was never, is not and will never be a freedom fighter! Ppl were killed in a planned and deliberate manner....that's the way terror functions...they don't care two hoots for the lives of innocent ppl...!
Some ppl have too much time and a misplaced sense of compassion...to go arnd protesting on behalf of this person and make a mockery of the sentiments of ppl who lost luvd ones because of this man's actions....!!! sick....
hmmmm!
Capital punishment is justified only if all legal channels have been faithfully followed and there is no reasonable doubt about the guilt.
The constitution allows the capital punishment to be undertaken only in the gravest of crimes.
Taxpayer money is not supposed to be spent in feeding and clothing the prisoners who have actually harmed the same society.
capital punishment is needed, for some violent crimes. and i am ashamed of leaders who forget there swearing in oath and try to support such barbarians.
frankly if a leader had the courage to remove special status given to that state, we would hav solved this whole problem long back. but alas, we live in an age of cowardly and selfish leaders and un-ethical media
I believe you are talking of the death sentence on Afzal. It really maddens one to see this parody in the name of democracy and justice in our country. Firstly, you take years and years to convict a person. If that was not bad enough you talk of clemency for a crimminal using religion as a fig leaf. Lets get one thing clear a crimminal is a crimminal. He has no religion. And finally, all this talk of miscarriage of justice,'Let ten crimminals go free but ensure that not a single innocent person is punished wrongly'. Anyone mouthing these words should go and visit our jails to see proof of what happens to undertrials who languish for months in the cesspits called our jails. But how does it matter to us the chattreing class. As long as we shed the crocodile tear for our dear Salman Khans and Sanjay Dutts being mistreated in our prisions.
I agree with you as well. But unfortunately, India, more than any other country I know, politicizes the whole process and makes excuses for thugs and murderers. This is not the first, will not be the last. In fact which other country would elect Phoolan Devi as an MP? But then we have a middle-school drop-out from a corrupt mafia-ridden country functioning as the unelected shadow PM. World's largest democracy. Go figure.
Have you seen the film
"Dead Man Walking"
It really made me think and
suffer through that
debate...
I detest the part of our world
that "sells" terrorists
(like George Bush)
on the covers of magazines but
articles of good souls does not.
you know what i feel... they should be kept alive but in a state where they can't do anything - with their legs/hands chpped off and togue sliced. he'll then just pray for his death... i am sure this is higher level of punishment than death... as i am also considering of the survivors who are affected both physically and mentally....
This truly is setting up a bad precedent!
I mean grant him pardon and then what - he goes back to his fields, tends to his cattle and generally finds himself singing songs of desh-bhakti! Crap!
I strongly feel he shouldnt be hanged! That would make him a hero to his disillusioned followers!
Instead lock him in some dark dingy corner and lose the keys!
Good to c u back into action again...
keep it up yaar.
keep posting.
Er someone says that the person should have his hands, legs and tongue chopped off. Excuse me? lol What's wrong with you people?
I know you are all trying to 'empathise' and 'sympathise' with the affected ones, but chopping off the criminal's head? How different are you from the criminal? Of course, you can go ahead and argue that while your purpose has a noble cause, his doesn't. Well, most often, you wouldn't have an idea about his purpose. And even when you have the audacity to guess on it and it luckily turns out to be right, what right do you have to render his lifeless?
I think the entire system is flawed. Killing a person because he killed someone sounds juvenile to me. And yes, even if you are about to be smart and retort back with something like, 'Yeah let me see you say that if he chops off your wife's head.' Yes. I'll probably be gunning for his head at that time, I agree. Not because I'd be thinking rationally at that time. But because my animal instinct would have overcome the rational me and I'd bay for blood at that time. And months later, I'd sit and wonder if it made any difference at all, in the first place.
Some things ought to be inculcated at a very small age. You teach them shit shit and more shit when they are children and you expect them to be people with outstanding morals and ethics when they grow up. It would never work that way. And yes. Whatever morals and ethics mean. It all makes no sense. In fact, I know me blurting out all of this makes no difference to anyone. And believe me. Not even to myself. Why do I do it then? Well, whoever said that a thing that you do needs to make a difference. lol Am beginning to sound extremely cynical now, I know.
Capital punishment, to me, however sounds like an extremely juvenile way of handling a delicate situation. The whole logic of defeating the purpose of something by doing the same thing baffles me. And no. It hasn't made any difference at all. Or else, China wouldn't have so many people to kill. Of course, the country seems to be totally screwed up. Well.
Like one of my friends says, 'The illusion of progress must go on... as illusionary though it is.'
I try to find the meaning for this word. Justice. I come up with
****
a : the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments b : JUDGE c : the administration of law especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity
2 a : the quality of being just, impartial, or fair b (1) : the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action (2) : conformity to this principle or ideal : RIGHTEOUSNESS c : the quality of conforming to law
3 : conformity to truth, fact, or reason : CORRECTNESS****
Every damn word above needs correct definitions. To me, all of the above statements are relative and subjective. Right? Wrong? What is right? What is wrong? Who decides what is right and what is wrong? What gives him/her the right to decide what is right and what is wrong? If eight out of a group of ten people maintain that something is right, does it necessarily have to be right? Can't the remaining two be right by opposing the eight? And who decides who is right? And more importantly, again, what is right?
Under what premise does it get judged on?
Well-
I guesss I've typed too much already.
just one line for all the above (sorry neha... for responding to comments)...
there is a difference between murdering (or killing) one person and creating terror (and an environment unlivable)... the person in context was found guilty for latter ... anyway things have too much of subjectivity around (for all the facts and figures can be created off-hand and faked)
I totally agre.. and infact was also thinking about this issue when I saw a debate on NDTV or some channel where there was a lady proclaiming about how this guy is being victimised etc etc... needless to say she was playing the religion game..
for all you know, in this country.. even if they dont abolish capital punishment, they will probably introduce reservations in belting out justice too.. "you know, the OBCs deserve to rob others and take lives coz they have been victimised for centuries.. they don't deserve punishment for avenging the wrong-doings of higher castes"... !!!!
Totally agree with Sophie about the 'Dead man walking' movie sparking off the same moral dilemma...
I have not made up my mind regarding death penality as well but i think the media attention is quite justifiable. It is positive in the sense that it puts out the message loud and clear that acts of terror and murder will be punished and it should scare other ppl from indulging in such activities.
it sells.. simple, the media mongers.. u have to feed them.. the flashes, the debates kicked over simple issues!! well well... the human rites with the page3 supportz n the bulbs flashing for the paperz gallore!!
then comes the articulate angle of politicz n law n international tips.. so much to balance before the indian-ness is realised or if at all we get to smell n feel the tricolourz!!
again no onez bothered also.. we are all in the 'I' mode trying to jump from ladder to ladder of life, individual battles with sum faces as terrorists n sum as samaritans... the national fabric has taken a beating, sans the uproar after RDB.. but again junta as the media rues is myopic... they forget things soon... its just like keepin the flames alive even if they aint needed.
sigh! they debate before hanging sumone whoz killed in cool blood!!! guess kandahar is off the mind.. anyway.. amen! till better senses prevail :)
I agree with you.It's pretty distasteful the way the issue was handled.
On a slightly different note, for some of these criminals getting that coverage in press empowers them in a sick sick way.
Here's to one of my fav. bloggers..Wish u a Very Happy and Prosperous Diwali..Take Care..Regards..Sam
@ All of the folks here
Well, I see comments about death penalty, terrorism etc etc etc.
But I think I had read in one of the articles, which debated that he didnt get a fair hearing ? So if this is the case, then my dear friends, the point of argument is skewed.
Cause here, we are talking about , whether the guy got a fair deal ? Or was he just thrust ahead, and "sacrificed" - and everyones happy.
The public can see someone beign hanged, they are happy and satisfied someone was accounted for.
The police managed to get one guy to the guillotine, they are happy and satisfied.
The judiciary decided to convict and behead the guy, they are happy.
But, why stop at one guy ? where are the others ? why catch just one, and sit back and enjoy the "laurels" on this one "catch" ?
Just dropped by to wish you a very happy diwali :)
Am wid u on this one. If he is guilty there's no question of clemency.
Hows u Vakeel Sahiba? Lol..
Hope you had a wonderful Diwali!!
I'm in total agreement with you here. People who commit vile and dastardly acts, whoever they are, must be made examples of and butchered. India has been extremely moderate and tolerant in cases it shouldn't be, and it has portrayed us as a weak and vulnerable country.
But sadly, the reality is opposite. Nowadays,it even looks like notorius human butchers will even enter the Indian parliament lol...this is outrageous!!! It looks like we have no self-respect..when will the government(s) ever learn to act in a normal, self-respecting fashion?
very well written and voices the sentiments of most of us...guess media never really had a consious...!
Defly...politicians are using this regionality...religion ...caste and everything possbile to divide and get maximum benifits out of it..
silly pooor ppl will fall for it all the time..never realizing where they are heading towards...
if we stop this at this level...we can stop this in the terrorism level also!
i soooo agree.. CAM!!
Ok here are some facts, the fact that some people are saying that afzal did not get a fair trial is because in the lower court he had NO LEGAL REPRESENTATION
the lawyer he had, left him for geelani and after that he could just not get one for himself, maybe because he could not pay the hefty fees or because being the kind of case that it is no one wanted to stand by someone who was perceived to be a terrorist who was accused of planning the parliament attack.
now if u r familiar with the legal process you would know that the appelate court only reviews the evidence that is on the record of the lower court so since afzal had no legal representation to speak of therefor it is debatable if he could put his side on the record, therefor the review of the case in the high court and the supreme court is a review in a very limited since with respect to afzal.
also the supreme court's judgement said that although no clear links have been established between afzal and any terrorist organisation it is clear that he was, however involved in the conspiracy of the attack, therefor he was held guilty of criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, and several sections of POTA.
well i have another argument i dont think it will harm the peace process but it will definitely make a martyr of him.
how does death help? it only lessens the suffering, let him rot in solitery confinement till he dies.
i think that is a better death sentence, but the fact that there is still a question mark over his guilt says a lot about our system.
u can verify all the legal part since u r a student of law urself
i am not justifyin what afzal did or chatterjee did... but tell me this.. what is a crime and who is a criminal? if death of a person is what makes us all grin then by hanging someone we are doin the sme thing? a person when hanged in the gallows ends up peeing and shittin in his pants.. so much is the struggle! dont you think thats barbaric..?
tell me this, when i kill someone in whatever gory way imaginable, u despise it, u treat me as a criminal and put me in jail and later a group of people in black coats backed by an ever swindling media make sure that i get the noose. i die.
what is the lesson learnt here? does that stop crime? by killing one chatterjee and afzal we are not puttin a break to the rapes and murders in the country.. how many will u hang? and why is it that court assumes it has an authority to end peoples life.. who gave u that right?
its easy to say blood for blood and eye for eye... point is it doesn solve anyones problem... it just adds to it.. a terrorist is conditioned so well that the thought of a noose waitin for him is only as scary as an ant bite.
a rapist while commitin is only bohered abt his physical plesure.. maybe the thought of an impending noose my stop him for one day... two days.. but one fine day he will find a way to vent his libido in some way that he wil go unnoticed...
this can be debated endlessly..
Amen to that! :)
Lolz at the comments made by Ruchika on introducing reservations even on dishing out punishment. Just couldn't help laughing - Very much true.
Politics everywhere!!
Hey..time for an update!!
Neha,
I totally agree with u. Law and order should be made stronger and stricter.
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