 "Mayawati demands speedy disposal of capital punishment cases")
In the backdrop of the hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yaqub Memon, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati today demanded cases in which capital punishment had been awarded be speedily disposed of in the "larger interests of the people and the nation".
She said Memon had been awarded capital punishment after the due procedures of law and conventions had been followed.
Refraining to comment on Yaqub's case, Mayawati mentioned the case had been disposed off after the court had heard the case multiple times and considered all arguments.
Yaqub's death warrant was executed in Nagpur central jail early today. Later, his body was flown from Nagpur to Mumbai for last rites.
On the 'inordinate' delay in cases involving death row convicts, she observed that considering the "concerns and misgivings" of the people, it would be in the interest of society if the government and courts resolved the lacunae, so that such cases are not deferred indefinitely.
She said such discrepancies were the result of government apathy, which breeds feelings of injustice.
Therefore, the governments should dispense their role with complete fairness and impartiality, so that people preserve their confidence in the impartiality of law, Mayawati said in a press communique.