Disappointed India wants David Headley to be hanged
26 Jan 2013 6:17 AM IST
Dissatisfied with the sentence given to LeT terrorist David Headley by a US court that sent him to 35 years in prison, the government and the opposition were on the same page on Friday in demanding a harsher penalty for the Pakistani-American terrorist.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid expressed disappointment over the judgement by a Chicago court. ‘If the trial would have been held here, the punishment would have been tougher, the US legal system had no provision to extradite him, but we will still try and get him tried in India,’ said Khurshid.
The principal opposition, the BJP, also said they would settle for nothing less than the extradition of Headley. ‘The sentence given to David Headley is for the death of six Americans who were killed in the Mumbai attack in 2008,’ said a BJP spokesperson. The BJP leader added that the extradition treaty between India and America had been signed in 1997 and the instruments of ratification were exchanged in 1999.
Even Union Home Secretary RK Singh condemned the sentence given to the terrorist. ‘Headley was involved not only in the Mumbai conspiracy, he also carried out recce in other places. Our request for his extradition stands, as far as the sentence is concerned, all those involved in 26/11, should be given death,’ said Singh. He added the government will demand a death sentence.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in India defended its decision not to seek death penalty, saying it was done in view of his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
‘This sentence reflects both severe punishment for Headley’s role in 26/11 crimes and a decision by the US Department of Justice not to seek the death penalty,’ said the statement. The US embassy also said that the US and India counter-terrorism cooperation is stronger than ever.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid expressed disappointment over the judgement by a Chicago court. ‘If the trial would have been held here, the punishment would have been tougher, the US legal system had no provision to extradite him, but we will still try and get him tried in India,’ said Khurshid.
The principal opposition, the BJP, also said they would settle for nothing less than the extradition of Headley. ‘The sentence given to David Headley is for the death of six Americans who were killed in the Mumbai attack in 2008,’ said a BJP spokesperson. The BJP leader added that the extradition treaty between India and America had been signed in 1997 and the instruments of ratification were exchanged in 1999.
Even Union Home Secretary RK Singh condemned the sentence given to the terrorist. ‘Headley was involved not only in the Mumbai conspiracy, he also carried out recce in other places. Our request for his extradition stands, as far as the sentence is concerned, all those involved in 26/11, should be given death,’ said Singh. He added the government will demand a death sentence.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in India defended its decision not to seek death penalty, saying it was done in view of his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
‘This sentence reflects both severe punishment for Headley’s role in 26/11 crimes and a decision by the US Department of Justice not to seek the death penalty,’ said the statement. The US embassy also said that the US and India counter-terrorism cooperation is stronger than ever.
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