The law must take its own course - II

So finally the State crumbled before the demands for clemency. The edifice of justice, so often assaulted and insulted in the long decades of our independence, may never have faced such a barrage, such a mockery of its actions. The Emergency may have asked of the judiciary to bend themselves before the powers that be and ensure favourable verdicts, but now the judiciary must agree to even changing their verdicts, should they not be in conformity with what is deemed as popular opinion. And what determines popular opinion? God alone knows? I for one, was neither asked my opinion on the demand for clemency, nor am I so presumptuous to believe that my previous blog could have had any effect on the Executive. That remains the case of many in my know and surrounds.

The justification that the State provides for having even stalled the scheduled execution of Mr. Afzal is that the President is seized of the matter, and pending his decision, the matter is on pause. And yes, had the State rejected the demand outright, it could have ensured that the Vale burn for another decade. Perhaps the worthy minister who issued the statement wishes to imply that a delayed rejection would have a somewhat different result. If the State will permit the Vale to burn, the Vale will burn! Let us not pretend to innocence, for we aren't bottle-suckling babies.

But what if the State crumbles so far as to grant Mr. Afzal a reprieve on his life, what is one to say that every other criminal sent to death row would muster up a crowd, and a following, and ensure that his/her death sentence is commuted? The Supreme Court has, through its directives, ensured that the death penalty is used only in the rarest of rare cases, and surely high treason falls in that category. To grant Mr. Afzal a reprieve would be to call into question the State's decision to hang Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who even if guilty of the most gruesome of crimes, still is innocent of treachery against his people.

Mr. Afzal's being an educated soul, a devoted family man and his assumption of other such roles shouldn't be used as a pretext to grant him clemency. Many men before him have died as traitors while assuming these and many other such ideal roles. If he is all that it is claimed he is, and I don't wish to doubt that even for a moment, then perhaps he would never have done all that he did, and I would not be writing this blog. But sadly, his happiness couldn't preempt him from committing high treason, could it? So the punishment is justified.

The State may wish to be seen as merciful, but I pray, not now. Not when your honour as a nation is at stake. Forget not those who have lain their lives to ensure that the scourge of terrorism is kept at bay. You, the keepers of Power, have the onerous responsibility of doing what will make history. Pray, do this job well!