This refers to Mihir Sharma’s column “Judge hanging” (Ticker, November 24). By describing Kasab as just another “young, deprived and brainwashed” Pakistani, the author ignores the jihadi fervour of the Islamic terrorists, seeking salvation by killing non-Muslims. This is like describing 9/11 as a “construction disaster”, or Fort Hood shooting as “workplace violence”. If the absence of the death penalty in a country is a measure of maturity, or “largeness” of any democracy, the US would not pass the test — for not only it exterminates terrorists, it does so without any due process on foreign soil, without permission of the host government. Moreover, Turkey would qualify for a place at the high table in the comity of successful democracies. It is unfortunate that the writer is among those who believe fighting terror is just a competition in public school manners.
Ajay Tyagi Mumbai
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