Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has once again courted controversy through a series of tweets comparing 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s execution with the burial of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Memon was executed today at Nagpur Central Jail at around 7 am after an unprecedented session of the Supreme Court was called at 3 am to finalise the decision. On the other hand, Bharat Ratna and former President Kalam, who passed away aged 83 on Monday evening, was cremated in his home town of Rameswaram later with full state honours.
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Singh seemed to be suggesting India to take up the values of liberalism and secularism rather than religious fundamentalism, but the language in his tweets was highly sarcastic.
What a coincidence ! Funerals of Two Indian MuslIms on the same day. Dr Kalam who has made every Indian proud of his achievements for India
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) July 30, 2015
And Yakub Menon who has by being associated with those involved in terror brought shame to the whole Community. — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) July 30, 2015
Singh also showed a sentiment similar to that of AIMIM chief Asaddudin Owaisi when he urged the government to show strictness in announcing death sentences for perpetrators irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
Owaisi had recently suggested that Yakub had been hanged only because of lack of a political backing and that the government was only targeting him because he was a Muslim.
“Yakub Memon hanged. Exemplary urgency and commitment has been shown by Govt and Judiciary in punishing an accused of Terror,” Singh said first.
In the following tweet, Singh said, “I hope similar commitment of Govt and Judiciary would be shown in all cases of Terror irrespective of their Caste Creed and Religion.”
Yakub Memon hanged. Exemplary urgency and commitment has been shown by Govt and Judiciary in punishing an accused of Terror .
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) July 30, 2015
I have my doubts the way the cases of other Terror accused are being conducted. Let's see. Credibility of the Govt and Judiciary is at stake
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) July 30, 2015
The tweets have since created a huge controversy with BJP's national spokesperson GVLN Rao demanding a formal condemnation from Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi on Singh's tweets through a press statement.
