15 Pro Death Penalty Quotes by Politicians from India

"The political parties and outfits fighting against the death sentence in the pretext of saving Tamils should understand that nine among the 15 persons killed along with Rajiv Gandhi were innocent Tamils," Subramanian said in a press release here today. [Sunday 11 September 2011]

Terming Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, the three convicts, as "innocents" is an "assault on the judiciary, sovereignty and integrity of the nation," he said.

"In the recent blasts at Delhi, 13 innocent Indians have been killed. Terrorism should not be linked with language, race, caste, religion and other narrow interests. In the fight against terrorism, capital punishment is inevitable," he said, adding that only in the 'rarest of rare' cases, death penalty is imposed in India.

In the case of Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the Supreme Court has awarded death sentence only to four persons, whose role in the conspiracy was proved beyond doubt, Subramanian said. "The death sentence to the trio is very fair and justice should prevail," he said and added that pardoning the Rajiv killers would only encourage terrorism in the country.

“It is a Supreme Court judgment and it must be respected. Whatsoever punishment has been awarded by the higher court should be implemented. We have seen how terrorists killed innocent persons. What about the families of those whose near and dear ones were killed by terrorists? They too have a right to justice.” [12 April 2013]

Wednesday 29 August 2012 - Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentence of Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, BJP today demanded execution of the Pakistani terrorist at the earliest.

"Those who wage war against the country and kill innocents deserve no mercy. ... Kasab should be hanged without any delay ... enough of biryani for him," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.

Describing Pakistan as "a terror factory", he said the government "must take all steps to destroy" terror infrastructure.

Naqvi also sought a separate set of laws to deal with terror-related cases.

"No leniency should be shown against this kind of a terrorist. They have tried to destroy the peace of the nation, so he (Kasab) should be hanged as fast as possible," he said.

The BJP on Saturday 28 October 2006, lashed out at author and rights activist Arundhati Roy for demanding clemency for Mohammad Afzal, convicted by the Supreme Court for complicity in the December 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.

"Those who are supporting Afzal by demanding that he should not be hanged are not only acting against pubic sentiment in the country but are giving a fillip to terrorist morale," said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar.

Deploring that Roy and some others could go to the extent of describing Afzal as a prisoner-of-war being tried in the courts of "an occupying country", he stated that the suggestion was "preposterous and anti-national".

"No country has witnessed such a defence of a terrorist. They have gone beyond the academic discussion on whether to have capital punishment or not," the BJP leader said further.

Against the backdrop of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voicing anger over the hanging of Afzal Guru, Union Minister Manish Tewari on Monday 11 February 2013, said that there was need for being "circumspect and responsible" as delicate scrutiny was involved in such cases.

"Every individual and every leader is free to express his or her views. We listen to them extremely carefully. We take those views on board. However, it is important to remember that capital punishment is given in the rarest of rare cases and each case rests on its own unique facts and circumstances," Tewari said.

"There can never be a one size fits all, there can never be a generic broadbrush when you deal with matters which are so sensitive and have both legal-judicial and constitutional implications and obligations," he added.

Tewari was asked by reporters about J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's statement that the onus rests on the judiciary and the political leadership to show that this wasn't a selective execution.

"Therefore, we would like to submit that in the case of capital punishment, there is a need to be circumspect, there is a need to be responsible. There is a need to understand and realise that there is a very delicate scrutiny process which is involved and which takes in to consideration the facts and circumstances of each case on its own merits," Tewari added.

“The Supreme Court judgement must be respected and whatsoever punishment has been awarded by the higher court should be implemented. There cannot be any exception. Those who dare the challenge the authority of the state and those who wage a war against the state and conspire to destabilise the country through arms, should be ready to face the consequences,” BJP vice-president Balbir Punj told PTI. [12 April 2013]

"The incident is absolutely reprehensible. I have sympathies with the families. We have taken strict action against the four accused involved in the incident. They have been arrested and we will demand death for the accused," Chavan said. [Referring to the murders of Reuben Fernandez and Keenan Santos on Thursday 20 October 2011]

"I have already condemned the murders... Necessary instructions will be given to law enforcing agencies (for securing the death penalty)," Chavan said on Friday 4 November 2011. "My government is with the bereaved families."

Kasab, 25, the only terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, was hanged at Pune's Yerwada Jail today morning.

The chief minister said keeping Kasab's execution confidential was the biggest challenge. "I was worried about another adventure by Pakistan for publicity or that somebody opposed to capital punishment would move court," he said.

"I was very particular that this (execution) should not become a case of chest-thumping and that the jail manual is strictly followed," Mr Chavan said, admitting that officials were jittery as a convict was being executed in Maharashtra after many years.

"Taking a life is never a pleasant thing. But what Pakistan did was so reprehensible that nothing less would have sufficed."