May 3: Delighted by the special court’s verdict that lone surviving Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab is guilty on all charges, state home minister R.R. Patil on Monday showered praises on the Mumbai police.
The home minister said that the Mumbai police had exposed Pakistan, which keeps denying its role in the entire conspiracy, by proving the conspiracy behind the attack.
“All the charges against Kasab have been proved in court. Most importantly, the conspiracy charge was proved. The conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. Thus, the Mumbai police has exposed Pakistan,” Mr Patil said.
The home minister also said that the Union government should ask Pakistan to hand over the 20 absconding Pakistani accused. “Monday’s court verdict will now strengthen our case against the 20 Pakistani accused. They should also be sent to India to face the trial,” Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil added.
Mr Patil also praised the Mumbai crime branch and said that its officers had worked round the clock to crack the case and gather all the evidence. However, the minister chose not to comment on Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed’s acquittal, saying that he could not do so until he sees the full court order.
“I have had discussions with investigating officers and the public prosecutor. They told me that we have all the evidence against Ansari and Ahmed, and that we should appeal in the high court against their acquittal. But we will have to wait till we get a copy of the court judgment. The state government will decide in a day or two on the issue,” Mr Patil said.
Chief minister Ashok Chavan expressed satisfaction over the court’s judgment, and said that the convict should be given the maximum punishment. “It is the wish of all the people of the country that Qasab should be given the maximum punishment. This is also the wish of the family members of the martyred policemen, soldiers and those who died in the terror attack,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party also welcomed the verdict. The party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said that the court has given justice to the people of Mumbai. “The Mumbai terror attack was not just an attack on the city. It was a war against the nation. Therefore it was necessary that the attackers be punished, as a deterrent measure. All Mumbaikars want that Qasab gets the highest punishment,” he said.