Don't hang Yakub Memon, implement Srikrishna report: Muslim bodies

A group of Muslim organisations and Mumbai president of Samajwadi Party Abu Asim Azmi on Saturday demanded that 1993 serial blasts convict Yakub Memon not be hanged. The organisations said their demand was in the light of the statement given by B Raman, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) head in Pakistan, who had played a crucial role in Memon's arrest.

A press conference was held at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh and was attended by Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind, Jamaat-E-Islami, and Ulema Council, besides Azmi.

"The officer (Raman) has written that he should not be hanged. Justice should be done with everyone. Once again, there is an opportunity to implement the Srikrishna Commission report. If we are to be seen as a justice-loving and secular nation, we should implement it," said Maulana Hakim Mehmood Dariyabadi.

The Justice BN Srikrishna Commission report, in the mid-90s, had recommended that cases be filed against those involved in the riots. It had held Shiv Sena leaders responsible for the riots, besides listing the causes. The recommendations were not accepted by the then government.

Drawing parallels between the deaths due to the blasts and those due to the riots that preceded, the speakers said ignoring one wrong and punishing the other is not the way to go, hinting that those accused in the riots were not being punished and all the focus was only on the blasts. "In this case, there is no reassurance that justice is being done. Hence, we feel that you (the media) will raise the voice of justice," said Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi, president of Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind in Maharashtra chapter.

Azmi said it seemed as if Muslims were being punished because there was no political backing. "Those who killed Rajiv Gandhi and the chief minister of Punjab are yet to be hanged. In fact, the assemblies even passed a resolution against it. The 257 families affected by the blasts feel that justice is finally coming their way, but the families of the over 2,000 who died in the riots are angry. They too want justice," he added.

"Everyone knows Yakub surrendered. Raman is the most prominent officer in this case. We only say that an innocent person should get justice. Ujwal Nikam can be appointed to give justice to those who were affected because of the riots."

Azmi's faux pas
Abu Asim Azmi, Mumbai president of the Samajwadi Party, drew a parallel between the riots that happened after the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre during the pre-Independence era. "When General Dyer killed thousands, he was complimented. There was no justice. And that's what led to the killing of a British officer. Similarly, the blasts were a reaction to an action, that of the masjid demolition," he said.