MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday demanded what he describes "direct conviction" of Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab "without any trial" – and that the Pakistani terrorist should be "hanged to death hundred times".
Thackery's statement comes just days after Shiv Sainiks attacked the residence of a lawyer who showed interest in fighting the case of Kasab, the sole terrorist, arrested by the Mumbai police. In a hard-hitting editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna', Thackeray ridiculed the two lawyers - Mumbai-based Ashok Sarogi and Mahesh Deshmukh of Amravati - for showing the willingness to defend a terrorist like Kasab. "How could even anyone think of appearing for a person who waged a terrorist attack on Mumbai and killed hundreds of innocents," questioned Thackeray.
"It seems Sarogi and Deshmukh were reminded of the professional ethics of their black coats and were enthused to fight for Kasab," said Thackeray.
Terming the November 26-29 terror attack as the attack on the nation, Thackeray said that around 10 terrorists from Pakistan entered the city and targeted the elite locations like the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, Oberoi-Trident and Chhatrapatis Shivaji Terminus among others.
Criticizing the judicial system of the country, Thackeray said, "How can such a ‘naradham’ be given chance to defend himself. Why create a mockery of democracy and judicial system by treating him (Kasab) as the nation's guest? On the contrary, he, who is the lone gunman alive, should be hanged till death. He should be hanged not once but 100 times outside the CST station where he first began the dance of terror."
Thackeray has termed the lawyers who are willing to defend Kasab as "disloyal". He noted that some legal eagles were also eager to defend terrorists, gangsters and dons like Afzal Guru, Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim's brother as well as the Memon brothers who were involved in the 1993 blasts.
However, Thackeray appreciated the spirit of those lawyers who decided not to appear for Kasab. "It is said that everyone has a right to defend himself. But in case if any lawyer refuses to take up the case of an accused then tall claims are made that such refusal is against the ethics of this profession. Those lawyers who feel for such terrorists should first handover their loved one to them and then defend such people," he said.
He further added that the footage shown on news channels and the photographs of Kasab and other terrorists along with his statement was enough to convict him without any trial.