Cong disapproves of Punjab govt taking up Rajoana's cause

Congress today virtually disapproved of attempts by the Punjab Government and the SGPC to seek clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana who has been sentenced to death in the assassination of late chief minister Beant Singh.

Congress on Monday virtually disapproved of attempts by the Punjab Government and the SGPC to seek clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana who has been sentenced to death in the assassination of late chief minister Beant Singh.

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"There is no role given to the Assembly and this (hanging of Rajoana) is a culmination of the legal process. These issues proceed under a legal and constitutional process and reach to a certain point.

"Whatever any Assembly may say, it cannot have any legal or Constitutional impact", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in reply to questions on the issue.

The AICC stand was made clear close on the heels of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who heads the Akali-BJP combine government, saying that he would soon meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for seeking clemency for the death row convict, an issue which has been taken up by the apex religious body of Sikhs.

However, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh had on Sunday assured support and cooperation to the state government, whether legal or by way of making an appeal to the President, on seeking clemency for Rajoana.

Singhvi added that this has not happened for the first time as such issues have been taken up in the past from various regions.

Singhvi also recalled that a resolution was passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly in past seeking amnesty for the killers of Rajiv Gandhi.

At that time, Centre had made it clear that the resolution was not binding on anyone.

There was also an attempt to get a resolution passed from Jammu and Kashmir Assembly earlier seeking amnesty for Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru.

A party leader, who declined to be identified, said that he is of the view that such practices should not be encouraged as they go against the spirit of the rule of law.