Hopes of Gurdip’s survival rest on Sushma

JALANDHAR: With politicians making a beeline for the house of Gurdip Singh, who is facing the death sentence in Indonesia, his family at Khehra Mohalla in Nakodar

JALANDHAR: With politicians making a beeline for the house of Gurdip Singh, who is facing the death sentence in Indonesia, his family at Khehra Mohalla in Nakodar town waits for an appointment with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a last-ditch attempt to bring him back alive.

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The family said they have also moved a clemency petition to Indonesian authorities through the Indian embassy.

Since Friday morning, Gurdip’s wife, Kulwinder Kaur (41), and his nephew, 19-year-old Gurpal Singh, have called Swaraj’s personal assistant many times, requesting him to fix a meeting with the minister, but to no avail.

Kaur said that Sushma was their last hope as she could take up matters with Indonesian authorities and make efforts to ensure Gurdip’s safe return.

“She (Sushma) phoned me on Thursday evening and made efforts to save him (Gurdip) from the firing squad and it worked,” Kulwinder said.

Gurpal claimed that he called the minister’s PA thrice and was given assurance by him.

“Uncle (Gurdip) called me in the evening and informed that he has been shifted to another cell. He asked us to approach the minister immediately to save his life,” said Gurpal.

He said that many politicians had visited the house only for the sake of politics and nobody had helped when Indonesia police were to shoot his uncle.

Gurdip was among 14 people who were taken out of their cells to face the firing squad on Thursday night. Four had been shot dead before a storm forced the executioners to take the death row convicts back to their cells, according to reports from Indonesia.

Singh was awarded capital punishment by a court in Banten province in February 2005. His appeals were turned down by the Banten high court and the Indonesian Supreme Court.