Kashmir lawmaker protests Yakub Memon's hanging

Srinagar, July 30: An independent lawmaker in Kashmir on Thursday criticised the hanging of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon and termed his execution as "a selective one that smacks of communal bias".

"The way government of India and the judiciary showed urgency in convicting and subsequent hanging of Yakub Memon clearly shows a communal bias while dealing with the cases of a particular community," said independent legislator, Engineer Rashid.

"Such an urgency is nowhere to be seen when it comes to cases relating to people involved in massacre of Muslims."

Rashid led a protest rally in Srinagar's city centre Lal chowk and held a symbolic sit-in near the clock tower in commercial hub of the city. Rashid along with his two dozen supporters were taken into preventive custody by police.

The protestors also raised slogans in favour of Afzal Guru, hanged in 2013 due to his involvement in the 2001 parliament attack case.

"We want to ask Delhi who among Muslims is to be hanged next. As three people executed in the last three years are all Muslims. Why law is made to bend in cases involving people from Hindu-fundamentalist organisations," the lawmaker said.

He said it is ironical that people involved in the Babri Masjid demolition and anti-Muslim pogroms are roaming scott-free and even occupying important positions in the country.

"If this selective targeting of Muslims continues it has the potential of communally dividing the country," he added.

IANS

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