By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Thursday welcomed the death sentence to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the others involved in the 26/11 conspiracy should also be brought to book.
Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said the prosecution had provided solid evidence against Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive during the Mumbai terror attack.
“It is an important decision. The sentiments of people were linked to the case. But sentiments apart, the decision was based on solid evidence,” Ahmed told IANS.
He said the court ruling has shown the high standards maintained by the judiciary in the country.
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the case was one of the most important trials in the country.
“It was a brutal massacre. The principal accused has been convicted. He was seen with weapons killing people. Any fair court would have come to this conclusion,” Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha while taking part in the discussion on the working of the home ministry.
Jaitley, however, said a number of the accused in the case were in Pakistan and on foreign soil. “How much longer before they will be brought to justice?” he asked.
The BJP leader said two more accused in the case have been let off as the legal infrastructure against terrorism in the country was still not strong.
He said the government should introspect whether the legal infrastructure is adequate to meet the challenge of terrorism.
Referring to POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), which was repealed by the United Progressive Alliance government, he said ordinary laws were not enough to fight terrorism.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters that justice has arrived at the “most appropriate conclusion”.
Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said the death sentence to Kasab would send a message to any terrorist who comes to India that they would meet the same fate.
“Justice has been done to the nation. It’s a welcome decision,” Moily said.