India Hails Kasab Verdict

Quite expectedly, several luminaries hailed the Special Court's verdict today in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks pronouncing Kasab guilty on all 86 counts he was charged under.

Leading them was Union home minister P Chidambaram, who welcomed the verdict. He said that the judgement was itself a message to Pakistan, and commended the court for resolving a case as complicated as this, quite fast. He said that the process and the judgement were proof of the Court's impartiality and professional working, and congratulated the investigating agencies involved.

Among the various people heralding the Court's pronouncement was also AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily, who said that the judgement is a victory for Indian courts. He said that nobody can fault the Special Court's judgement, and congratulated all involved in helping resolve the case.

Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam was quite expectedly elated - Kasab had been declared guilty on all counts he was charged under, and it was proven that the training camps for the attackers were held in Pakistan. Nikam said that he would press for the harshest punishment for Kasab, when the arguments for the sentence begin tomorrow.

However, Nikam wasn't too happy about Sabhauddin and Ansari, Indians accused of being facilitators for the plot, being acquitted. He said that they were accused in the UP Rampur and the Bangalore blasts, too, and that he would appeal their acquittal.

Public figures aside, the masses in the country are ecstatic over the verdict, too. Most people want Kasab hanged, if possible yesterday. That, of course, is a far way, off - the Indian judicial system allows Kasab to appeal first in the High Court, then in the Supreme Court, and then to the President. Then, if a "secular" government is at the helm of affairs, he'll live as long as Afzal Guru, if not forever.