By Staff Reporter
Pune (Maharashtra): If an accused has to receive the cudgel, then the punishment meted out to him should be implemented at once. However for that to occur law needs to undergo certain changes. This proclamation was made by the public.
prosecutor/government advocate Adv. Ujjwal Nikam associated with the 1993 bomb blast petition. Surpassing all difficulties such as terrorism by the mafia leader Dawood Ibrahim, political pressure, threats to his life aand monetary bribes, Adv. Nikam fought these anti-nationalist forces. To commemorate this he was felicitated at the Balgandharva Rangamandir by the retired state Police Commissioner Shri Arvind Inamdar. The felicitation ceremony included presentation of a Puneri pagdi (headgear), a stole, a rose garland, an idol of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and a letter of appreciation.
The advocate was also felicitated on behalf of the HJS and the Sanatan Sanstha. The huge crowd of thousands gathered there was testimony to the fact that even today the public stands firmly behind those who fight injustice. The other dignitaries present on the dais were the Opposition leader Prof. Vikas Matkari, a senior lawyer Adv. Dadasaheb Bendre, an Ayurvedic physician Dr. Balaji Tambe, a social worker Shri Vivek Velankar, etc. When addressing the gathering after the felicitation Adv. Nikam said, “This is not just my felicitation but that of all the other government servants who assisted me in this task.” Thereafter he narrated all the upheavals in the bomb blast case and how he was both threatened and offered bribes. He also confessed how at some point he was tempted to withdraw from the petition. Attacking the film industry and the media for elevating the actor Sanjay Dutt he reiterated that no one is above the law. Listening to reactions of the common man he exclaimed that ‘people are still sensitive’. Shri Inamdar in his speech said that organisations such as the Central Crime Investigation Department needed to be given autonomy. He lamented that the present pitiable state of the country was created by politicians. Laws such as ‘POTA’, ‘TADA’ etc. have been kept under wraps by politicians only for the votebank. The country is being sold for votes and the situation is serious. In such circumstances we need advocates like Shri Nikam in the judiciary. The programme began with singing of Vande Mataram and concluded with the national anthem.
Salient features of Adv. Nikam’s Address regarding the bomb blasts …
- The bomb blasts were a conspiracy which originated in Dubai to provoke Hindu-Muslim riots in India in 1993.
- Pakistan supported this conspiracy actively. The accused received training from Pakistan.
- The chargesheet of the accused reached the don Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon.
- Protecting the witnesses who would be pardoned for giving evidence against the others was real penance.
- Due to legal restrictions it is not possible to expose several points in the petition openly. If I am able to do that I am sure I will gain public sympathy but that is not what I desire.
Regarding law…..
- Criminals do not fear the legal system.
- The main objective of legal proceedings which is to mete out ‘severe punishment’ is unsuccessful.
- Disrespect for law requires amendment.
- It is unfortunate that the punishment of death penalty is not carried out. The plea to the President seeking amnesty should have a time barrier.
