Pratibha Patil Archives - Voice from the rooftop

Justice International

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

I announce the founding of Justice International. I am the founder and president.

The aim is to get justice to victims and their families. Those who wish to join can write to vincent@go4quiz.com

We will fight for death penalty in all countries for all cases of murder, attempted murder, abduction, acid throwing, hijacking, kidnapping, piracy and such high crimes. Death penalty should not be restricted to rarest of rare cases. It is immaterial how much time has passed after the crime. It is ridiculous to say a murderer should be hanged within one year but should not be hanged if a long time has passed. It is immaterial whether the criminal has reformed or not. We will see that death penalty is restored in Canada, European Union, Russia, Mexico, South Africa and such countries.

Politics over death penalty

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

It is a shame that some politicians want mercy for criminals whose mercy petitions are rejected by the President. Some months back a Sikh terroristâ€™s petition was rejected and Akali and Congress politicians from Punjab wanted mercy for him. The terrorist had gone to Supreme Court and wanted his petition to be settled one way or other and after the rejection he has gone to court challenging the dismissal.

Now some politicians from Tamil Nadu want mercy for three Tamil terrorists. It is perverse for Karunanidhi to ask mercy for Rajiv Gandhiâ€™s killers claiming Rajiv Gandhi would have shown mercy under similar circumstances. Rajiv Gandhi did not die alone. Fifteen innocent people, including nine policemen on duty, died in the blast. No thought is given to them. The terrorists have appealed to Madras High Court on the ground of delay in decision. Karunanidhi, Vaiko and other politicians who oppose death penalty had lost elections.

Death to terrorist

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 6/5/2010 special sessions judge M. L. Tahaliyani sentenced Ajmal Kasab to death on five counts. People in general expected death penalty and were happy at the judgment. Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam was on all channels.
The death penalty has to be confirmed by the High Court. Thereafter it can be challenged in the Supreme Court. After that mercy petition can be filed. Pratibha Patil does not want to reject any mercy petition and with her as president there is no hope of Ajmal Kasab being put to death.
As of now mercy petitions are decided on a monthly basis, one case at a time. Home Ministry advised rejection of two mercy petitions. Pratibha Patil did not do that. It may take more than two years to dispose of the present pending cases.

Women and reservations in legislatures

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Reservation for women in rural and urban bodies should not have been there and should go.
Reservation will mean women from families of existing legislators will become candidates. It will not help ordinary women. To say that even if they are family members they are women is not a sound argument.
Women who are competent win elections. Indira Gandhi became prime minister. Pratibha Patil became president. There have been many women chief ministers. Some of them are leaders of their parties. All of them succeeded without reservations. Reservation for women in legislatures will mean incompetent women will become legislators.

Impeach Pratibha Patil

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

As per one report Indiaâ€™s President Pratibha Patil has refused to reject mercy petitions of murderers sentenced to death penalty. She follows Home Ministryâ€™s advice only when it is to commute death penalty to life imprisonment.

Mercy Petitions

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Pratibha Patil, for almost two years after becoming the President of India, did nothing about pending mercy petitions. Now she will take up one mercy petition per month. There are about 26 mercy petitions pending. Most of them were legacy of her predecessors.

Pratibha Patil and death penalty

Posted on November 1, 2007 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Pratibha Patil became the President of India on 25/7/2007. Since then three months have passed. There is no news of mercy petitions of murderers sentenced to death. K. R. Narayanan did not reject any mercy petition. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam rejected one mercy petition. In spite of Home Ministry’s decision to reject mercy petitions…

Presidential election

Posted on July 7, 2007 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Presidential election 2007 has turned nasty. Pratibha Patil’s record during emergency was dug up. Her comments about purdah created a controversy. Her role in the bankruptcy of a bank of which she was a founder and director, allegations of her brother being a murderer, her husband causing the suicide of a man, misuse of MPLADS…

Pratibha Patil

Posted on June 15, 2007 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

When I wrote about Shivraj Patil I did not expect the situation to change in the next 24 hours. Much less did I expect Pratibha Patil to be the UPA candidate for President. Pratibha Patil was not in the picture. Left Front did not go along with UPA. They said no to Shivraj Patil and…