Yakub Memon wants to serve India for rest of life

Nagpur, July 24: Meeting his family probably for the last time was difficult for Yakub Memon. And he made an equally unrealistic promise to his family (given the death sentence on July 30)-to serve India for the rest of his life. This was revealed by his brother-in-law Rahil who was among the family members who went to Nagpur jail to meet him.

On his way back to Mumbai from Nagpur. He was accompanied by Rahin, Yakub's wife, their daughter, Rahin's sister Rizwana and Suhail (th ebrother of Rubina Memon, who is serving life term in the 1993 Mumbai blast case).

Rahil said that Yakub first hugged his wife and daughter and then he spoke to his wife in private. Rahil revealed that Yakub was stressed and realised that his destiny was being decided because he was Tiger Memon's brother. Rahil said:

"Yakub told us that he still has faith in Allah and things will happen as per destiny. This was the first time I saw Yakub stressed in all these years. He was not expecting death sentence. He said he is facing this fate because he is brother of Tiger Memon. He says the country should make use of his skills. He wants to open a school. With his help 5 people in jail have cleared their SSC exams. Yakub has a written acknowledgement of this work."

He further added,"He wants to work for India. He believes and he can be of use to his country. He said he is not a family man anymore because his youth has been spent in jail, at least he can make use of the time left and serve others."

Yakub also regrets that he did not expect a death sentence as the then Home Minister had promised him that he would not be given Capital Punishment if he surrendered. He expected some sympathy from the government as he had given a lot of information about the blast.

Memon, in his plea claimed that he was suffering from schizophrenia since 1996 and has remained behind bars since the past 20 years. He had sought commutation of death penalty arguing that a person cannot be given death penalty as well as life term for the same offence.

OneIndia News