Shashi Tharoor's tweets on Memon's execution embarrasses Congress

 

"Saddened by news that our government has hanged a human being. State-sponsored killing diminishes us all by reducing us to murderers too," Tharoor tweeted.

He, however, quickly posted another tweet claiming that he is not commenting on the merits of a specific case.  It was followed by two more tweets explaining his stand on the death sentence.

"I'm not commenting on the merits of a specific case: that's for the Supreme Court to decide. Problem is death penalty in principle&practice."

"We must fight against terrorism w/all the means at our command. But cold-blooded execution has never prevented a terror attack anywhere."

"There is no evidence that death penalty serves as a deterrent: to the contrary in fact. All it does is exact retribution: unworthy of a Govt," Tharoor said.

However, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the comments made by Tharoor was his personal view and not of the party.

Recently Tharoor's speech at the Oxford University demanding reparation from the British for 200 years of colonial rule and oppression went viral on social network media, drawing flak from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.