CPI(M) demands Yakub Memon's mercy petition to be accepted

CPI (M) on Wednesday demanded that 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon's mercy petition should be accepted as his execution would not serve the interests of justice.

CPI (M) on Wednesday demanded that 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon's mercy petition should be accepted as his execution would not serve the interests of justice.

The party said that he chose to surrender and cooperate with the authorities. Memon, whose curative petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, has submitted a mercy petition for the Maharashtra governor, in the last-ditch effort to prevent execution of his death sentence on July 30.

Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision, CPI(M) said that unlike the main explosion culprits - who the party said had escaped law - Memon had chosen to surrender before Indian authorities, stand trial and provide information about the conspiracy.

"Yet, he was singled out for death sentence while main perpetrators are at large. It would serve ends of justice if Memon's death penalty is commuted to a life sentence. CPI (M) has been in principle advocating abolition of death penalty. Hence, his mercy petition, which has been filed, should be accepted," the party said in a statement.

While pressing the demand, the communist party cited the example of those convicted in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case whose sentences were commuted to life.

Describing the 1993 blasts as "a heinous terrorist attack" that killed 257 persons, the party said it is imperative that the criminals responsible should be brought to book and punished. "Every effort has to be made to bring back the culprits to India and be punished under law," it said.

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