DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Tuesday urged the Centre to dispense with death penalty for all crimes in the country.
In a statement here, Mr. Karunanidhi said even though the Law Commission had recommended abolition of death penalty in all cases except those related to terrorism and waging war against country, India should abolish death penalty for all crimes.
“I have in the past said that while more than 90 per cent of the countries have abolished death penalty , India should also join them by abolishing the same,” he said, adding that former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also made a strong case for abolishing death penalty before the Law Commission.
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Dr. Ramadoss said while India was not going to achieve anything by retaining death penalty, its abolition could save the lives of 1,617 persons who had been sentenced to death.
He said he was in full agreement with the Chairman of the Law Commission A.P. Shah that death penalty would not help in bringing down crimes. “Instead life imprisonment can be the option. A civilised nation cannot afford to retain death penalty,” he said.