Show no mercy

The editorial The quality of mercy (October 5) suggesting commutation of Afzal's death sentence to life imprisonment is not in tune with the majority opinion in the country.

Show no mercy

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The editorial The quality of mercy (October 5) suggesting commutation of Afzal’s death sentence to life imprisonment is not in tune with the majority opinion in the country. That Afzal was only a planner and not a perpetrator is not sound logic. Besides, terrorists cannot be let off due to public outrage. If it has to be so, we shall have to settle terrorists’ cases in people’s courts.

PN Razdan
via e-mail

II

It is unfortunate that the families of the martyred police officials got page 4 space while Afzal’s family made it to the front page. The editorial seems to want us to believe that the court has not examined all the issues involved in the case. The plea that Afzal’s hanging may incite more militancy is a blackmail tactic. Any leniency in this case will show that ours is a week democracy which is easily threatened.

RC Mehta
via e-mail

Always India-baiting

Sitaram Yechury in We are not in it together (October 6) rightly points out that the US is an India-baiter. However, he misses out on mentioning the other one — China. The US follows a pragmatic foreign policy that believes that neither friends nor enemies are permanent. It will support India only if it suits it to.

II

The US’s vote against India’s candidate is an eye-opener. Despite the rhetoric of India and the US being ‘natural partners’ as the largest democracies of the world, the US did not deem it fit to support India’s bid for the coveted seat. It is heartening that Tharoor could exit from the race with dignity as he came in second in the poll.

Suresh PM
Delhi

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