Petty politics behind controversy over Yakub death sentence:

Alleging "petty politics" behind the controversy over the death sentence to Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, BJP today said the decision was taken after a thorough legal process and that it should be honoured by all.
These remarks by party spokesperson Sambit Patra came on a day a number of MPs from various parties including BJP's Shatrughan Sinha and eminent citizens from different walks of life submitted a petition to President Pranab Mukherjee against the death sentence awarded to Memon.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan too had tweeted defending Memon, though he later retracted his tweet.
Without taking any name, Patra said his comments are meant for all -- whether they are into politics or otherwise.

"If terrorism has no religion, how is it possible that terrorists can be ascribed to their religion? Law is blind. It does not have eyes to differentiate on the basis of religion and colour.
"Let us not try, for our petty political gains, to give eyes to law. Similarly, terrorism has no religion. Let us not try for our petty political gains to ascribe a religion to a terrorist or terrorism. Connecting terrorism with any religion or community will be doing injustice to that religion or community," he said.

Patra said that the death penalty of Memon, a convict in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, was held by the apex court after a thorough judicial process.

"257 persons have died. Their deaths are very painful for their families... It's a matter of regret that this kind of politics is happening over the issue of hanging of a terrorist," the BJP spokesperson said.
Asked about Salman's earlier tweets, Patra said, "Anyone and everyone in this country should respect the law of this country. No one is above the law of the country. The case has been going on in various courts of law for last 20 years."
"It is but natural that every aspect of the case must have been studied by the law and thereafter, a verdict given. And that's the reason as to why everyone should refrain from commenting on the process of the law."

When told about the petition to the President, the BJP spokesperson said that he would not like to comment on it is with the President.
The BJP spokesperson said that the case has undergone a legal process for 20 years and "only after due deliberation it has reached a sense of closure". "Let the law take its own course. Why are we for our political gains commenting on these issues," he said.