Badal meets PM; takes up issue of Indians on death row

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today took up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the issue of granting legal aid to 17 Indians from his state who have been sentenced to death in UAE.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday took up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the issue of granting legal aid to 17 Indians from his state who have been sentenced to death in UAE.

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Badal met Singh at the Prime Minister's residence at 7-Race Course Road on Wednesday morning, a statement said.

Singh told, the Chief Minister that he had already issued instructions to the Ministries of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs to provide all possible assistance to the Indians on death row to ensure a positive outcome.

Badal had earlier written to Singh seeking his personal intervention to immediately provide necessary assistance and legal aid to these hapless persons so that there was no miscarriage of justice.

The Chief Minister also thanked Overseas Indian Minister Vayalar Ravi for taking necessary action to help those on death row.

Didar Singh, Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, also met the Chief Minister at Kapurthala House to apprise him of the latest status regarding the 17 Indians sentenced to death on March 29 by a Sharjah shariah court for killing a Pakistani in 2009.

An appeal is to be filed within 15 days of the judgement which is being filed on Thursday, the statement said.