An open letter to all the naysayers of capital punishment

Dear Sir

Your opinion in the editorial has made me think about the burden on India’s conscience following the hanging of Yakub Memon. It is clearing unnerving. And not all a comfortable position to be in. But it has also got me curious.

People of the likes of M. Tharoor have also stated that capital punishment is inhuman and not in line with India’s constitutional spirit. It is hardly a deterrent to prevent future catastrophes either. A lifetime imprisonment is a much more humane way.

Well then let me ask you, what purpose is a life imprisonment going to serve? If capital punishment is not a deterrent, do you mean that an imprisonment of life would prompt a change of heart and awaken a sudden collective conscience? That just by being conscientious and merciful we would suddenly ignite a spark of patriotism and compassion in those scores of minds and hearts who would still be plotting to bomb and kill as we speak. Do you really think these acts are a work of a thinking mind and equally conscientious hearts? I think you know the answer too well.

So let me put this fair and square. Terrorism is not a thing of the humans.  It is above all logic of humanity and justice, however merciful your approach be. You need not think hard on this. The way ISIS has been going about establishing their caliphate is too ominous a sign. And equally foolhardy to ignore. They kill in thousands. They kill in cold blood. They kill while laughing their guts out. They kill while you plead and beg for mercy. They kill the non-believers. THEY KILL THEIR OWN.

They kill for power.

Infact going by your logic, just as capital punishment is not a deterrent, all acts of valour and courage and patriotism should inspire us all. The slain policemen in Dinapur should make us all pledge our allegiance to the country, irrespective of our religion or community. Capt Vikram Batra should have inspired us all to lay down our lives for the country. Yet how many of us sent our children to the forces ? Did you ?

It is like comparing apples to oranges.

Lets not live in a make believe world. A conscientious heart is always the one. If you think about your country and fellow men over and above anyone else, you will always be a patriot. 

Again what purpose will life imprisonment serve?  Will it not cost the exchequer huge amounts of  money that could be spent more constructively? Will it not burden the already over burdened jails of the country, already spilling over with inmates ? Why not give him a nice long conscientious speech on patriotism and welfare and send him home ? At least his family would have a reason to smile!

And who says capital punishment is supposed to serve as a deterrent? No it is not. It is merely a punishment befitting your crime. Surely Terrorism comes under the rarest of rare crime. It’s a challenge to destroy my country and all that i hold dear. And i will not take it lying down.

We all remember Mother India. Where the mother shoots her own son because he was wrong. A doer of evil. She shot him.  Fair and square. A punishment befitting his crime. That is what justice is.

I rest my case.