'Govt must pass resolution to end death penalty'

Radical Sikh groups have appealed to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to issue a 'hukamnama' (directive) to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to get a resolution passed in the state assembly calling upon the union government to abolish the death penalty imposed on Rajoana

Radical Sikh groups have appealed to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to issue a 'hukamnama' (directive) to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to get a resolution passed in the state assembly calling upon the union government to abolish the death penalty imposed on Babbar Khalsa militant Balwant Singh Rajoana in the Beant Singh assassination case.

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This decision was taken at a meeting convened by Sikh hardliners here on Wednesday to discuss the Rajoana case. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Bhai Mokhan Singh, chairperson of the Khalsa Action Committee, SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann, Shiromani Panthic Committee chairperson Manjit Singh Calcutta and SGPC member Kulbir Singh Barapind.

In a joint communique to the Akal Takht jathedar, these groups pointed out that in 1999, Badal had approached the then President of India and got the life term of Bhai Ranjit Singh, the then Akal Takht jathedar, remitted.

However, the communiqué was silent on whether the chief minister should approach the governor or the President for getting the death sentence of Rajoana commuted to life imprisonment.

The radical groups felt that if the death penalty of Rajoana is carried out, the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab could get vitiated, for which Badal would be responsible.

The radical organisations also decided to attend the meeting of religious, political and social Sikh groups called by the Akal Takht jathedar on March 23 to discuss the Rajoana case.