The deafening silence after Yakub's hanging

Prior to Yakub Memon's hanging by end July 2015, there was a flurry of intellectual self-gratification by political leaders, jurists and activists and the media moghuls alike. Many had petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee urging him to waive off the death sentence of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon. Learned folks like Shashi Tharoor made impassioned speeches, to the galleries' "wah! wah!" accolades, on the bane of hanging, and how mercy should be shown to such "simpletons" who deserved to live on this earth, even if they chose sit right on top of the graves of hundreds that were mercilessly murdered by them in broad daylight.

The shrill calls for showing mercy to these marauders reached a crescendo at the last hour before Yakub's hanging. It felt as if these "activists" were literally clutching the feet of the hangman, begging him to let go of this " innocent man", even as the noose was being tightened. The Secularism Industry, surely, was in business.

It has been two months now. Grass has grown on Yakub's grave. Grass has grown, too, under the feet of these intellectuals. As far as I read and hear, none of these vocal mercy petitioners have approached any of the law-makers to abrogate the "draconian death penalty" provisions under the Indian Penal Code.

I am keen to know if Tharoor even asked to raise this issue on the floor of the parliament, during the 1 1/2 days the Monsoon session functioned for (!). I am keen on knowing which have these activists
have petitioned their respective MP to raise this in parliament. After all, these intellectuals know very well that the only way this law can be repealed, is by making an amendment, by both houses of the Parliament.

I am almost sure that none has raised this bogey thus far(I will be delighted to be proven wrong). None will. Not until the next set of hangings, riding on today's court ruling awarding death penalty to five conspirators in the Mumbai train blasts in 2006 reaches a crescendo in another 5 years perhaps. At that time, they get yet another chance to prove that they are the leaders of the Secularism Industry. At that time, the media gets another business opportunity to up their TRP ratings.

Until then, whisky will continue to flow freely in social gatherings. Until then, the media will have to find other "hot topics" like bashing up sadhus, to keep their TRP ratings. Until then, the terrorists can continue to feast on lamb biryanis in the cosy confines of jails.

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