Reconsider Memon's plea: Former Bengal governor to president

Former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Wednesday urged President Pranab Mukherjee to "reconsider" the rejection of 1993 Mumbai serial blast convict Yakub Memon's mercy plea.

"When the nation is paying solemn tribute to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose conscientious opposition to the death penalty is widely known, I urge you to reconsider the rejection of Yakub Memon's mercy plea," Gandhi said in a letter to the president.

"President Kalam had, as recently as earlier this month, expressed his opposition to the concept of capital punishment. He expressed this opinion to the Law Commission, which has been holding deliberations regarding the desirability and efficacy of the death penalty," Gandhi, the secretary to former president K.R. Narayanan.

"It would, I suggest, be a fitting tribute to the humane legacy of President Kalam to grant Yakub Memon his life, for which course there are also other compelling reasons."

"Memon submitted to the Indian jurisdiction, when he may quite easily have evaded justice. A respected officer of Indian intelligence has spoken of his cooperation with the law, thus rendering the death penalty is completely inappropriate in his case," said Gandhi.

Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence of Memon. His execution is scheduled for July 30.