Salman Khurshid hails SC verdict on Kasab

New Delhi, Aug 29 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict to uphold the death sentence of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, saying the latter's trial reflects the fact that India gives a fair chance to every accused to defend himself.

"We have got a chance to say that in India, even the worst person or our country's biggest enemy, is given an opportunity to explain his stand under the rule of the law. However, after that, respecting the country's law system, we take up the next step accordingly," said Khurshid.

" I feel that after the decision of the Supreme Court on Kasab, we should bow down and salute our judicial system and judges," he added.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat also hailed the apex court's decision.

"Kasab is an enemy of both India and humanity. The decision of the Supreme Court in this regard is welcomed. Everyone, be it in the government or outside the government, would want that Kasab should be punished," he said.

The apex court earlier in the day upheld the death sentence of Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed.

A bench of Justices Aftab Alam and C K Prasad dismissed the plea of 25-year-old Kasab challenging his conviction and death sentence confirmed by the Bombay High Court.

The bench also observed that the failure of government to provide him an advocate at the pre-trial stage did not vitiate trial court proceedings against him.

It also held that the confessional statement given by Kasab, which he retracted during trial, was very much voluntary except a very small portion.

Kasab, who is lodged in Arthur Road Prison in Mumbai, had filed the appeal from jail challenging his conviction and death sentence.

The apex court had appointed senior advocate Raju Ramachandran as amicus curiae to argue on behalf of Kasab.

Kasab, during the argument in the apex court, had contended that he was not given a free and fair trial and that he was not the part of any larger conspiracy for waging war against India. (ANI)