Sympathizing with Yakub Memon is disservice to nation, says Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad: Union minister Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday expressed disappointment over few people trying to politicise issues of death sentence and terrorism and said it would be "a disservice to nation" by sympathizing with Yakub Memon, who was recently hanged in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

"... Unfortunately, some people are trying to politicise everything," Naidu said here, adding that death sentence and terrorism are two different things and people can debate on it.

"But, as far as fighting terror is concerned we must do it with all our might. We are becoming worst casualty of terror. They are aiming to subvert our economy and weaken our country. There should not be any scope for any sort of leniency or softness, as far as dealing with terrorists is concerned," he said.

On the recent debate over the death sentence of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon, he said, "I am really amazed over the way some people debated over (death sentence to) Yakub Memon. He is a traitor, he is a terrorist and he has done immense damage to the country. After giving a fair trial and opportunity he was given the punishment and it has been implemented."

"However, some people tried to link it with human rights and some tried to link it with religion. Terrorists have no religion, no caste. Terrorist is a terrorist. We will be doing a disservice to the nation ... anybody trying to sympathize with him (Yakub)," Naidu said.

"People are dismayed the way Memon issue was highlighted (in media). The country lost one of its great sons, former President APJ Abdul Kalam ... the funeral was going on, but the focus was on Yakub Memon ...what are we discussing?" he asked.

Criticizing those challenging the action of judiciary, he said, "Unfortunately, we have seen in sections of media some people are trying to challenge the action of judiciary and action of government as if we are at fault. Some people (AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi) also said action should be taken against people who are involved in riots, who has stopped you?"

"We (BJP) came to power only one year back, others were there in power, so how can they blame us on that count?" the senior BJP leader asked.

The Union minister said that some people in the country have an ideology to "glorify terror, terrorists and extremists".

Replying to the recent comments by Union home minister Rajnath Singh that the term "Hindu terrorism" was coined during UPA rule, he said, "Terror has no religion. If you are raising certain things that means you are trying to strengthen the hands of our critics, the perpetrators of terror."

"We never said it's a Muslim terror, Christian terror or Hindu terror. We said terror is terror and it is enemy of mankind and that should be the approach," he added.