QOTD: Jessica hope for others?

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Rajdeep Sardesai

26/11: Terror comes precariously close

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New Delhi: The Justice for Jessica Lall campaign was victorious on Wednesday when Manu Sharma, found guilty of murdering the model, was given life imprisonment. Two other accused were given prison sentences too.

The Justice for Jessica Lall campaign was a citizens’ initiative. When a trial court acquitted Manu in February 2006, public opinion was outraged and common citizens gathered in huge numbers to organise candle light vigils, SMS campaigns and chain e-mails.

Students came out on the streets and a signature campaign reached the President of India. The protest was a modern-day satyagraha led by a technology-driven citizens. The murder case became a watershed in middle class civic activism with the common man taking on what someone they perceived as ‘bade baap ki bigdi aulad’ (spoilt son of a rich father).

Does justice for Jessica hold out hope for others looking for justice?

All across the country there are many cases, which could also be of similar nature as the Jessica Lall murder case. Has the entire generation woken up to stand up for what it believes is the real truth?

To answer that big question on CNN-IBN Face the Nation was Supreme Court lawyer Rani Jethmalani, Neema Goel, widow of Delhi businessman Pradeep Goel, who was allegedly murdered by Delhi Police officials in 1997.

The seven-and half-year long battle to get justice for Jessica reached what many say has been a ‘logical conclusion’.

Jessica’s sister Sabrina Lall expressed relief over the verdict, but as Manu Sharma’s lawyers now plan to approach the Supreme Court, there could still be yet another chapter in this battle for justice.

“They will 100 per cent approach the SC, but somehow that doesn’t worry me because I don’t believe under the present circumstances the SC will be in a position to or want to overturn the verdict given by the High Court,” said Sabrina.