Rajoana dares SAD to clarify stand on '84 riots
Even as Punjab has expressed its inability to hang Balwant Singh Rajoana, on death row in former chief minister Beant Singh's assassination case, the convict has already pledged his body to the Akal Takht in Amritsar.
Even as Punjab has expressed its inability to hang Balwant Singh Rajoana, on death row in former chief minister Beant Singh's assassination case, the convict has already pledged his body to the Akal Takht in Amritsar.
A Chandigarh court had recently issued orders for hanging Rajoana at the Central Jail here on March 31. The Babbar Khalsa terrorist, who is lodged in the jail, on Friday signed the 'vasiatnama' (declaration) for donating his body.
Rajoana, who met his sister Kamaljeet Kaur and Sikh hardliner Sant Baljeet Singh Daduwal on Friday, sent a letter to the media through his sister, daring the Shiromani Akali Dal-led government to clear its stand on the 'genocide' of Sikhs in 1984 and its aftermath.
Addressing SAD leaders as "neeliyan paggan wale" (blue-turbaned leaders), Rajoana said they should clarify whether Beant Singh's killing was justified or not keeping in view the 'attacks' on Sikhs by then Punjab chief minister.
Asking Sant Samaj leaders to make their stand clear on the 1984 riots and militancy in Punjab, Rajoana asked in the letter, "Where were these religious leaders for more than a decade when the assassination case was being heard by the country's 'unfaithful' judicial system?"
The Sikh radical admitted in the two-page letter that he was part of the conspiracy to kill Beant Singh in 1995.
Rajoana's sister Kamaljeet said her brother was prepared to be hanged on March 31 and did not want the hanging to be delayed. "His view is that the Punjab government is again playing politics over the issue," said Kamaljeet.
Daduwal said the 'vasiatnama' would be handed over to the Akal Takht Jathedar on March 18, adding that a procession of Sikh leaders would start from Gurdwara Manji Sahib at Rajoana village near Raikot in Ludhiana district.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around the jail. Apart from the jail security staff, more than 100 personnel from Punjab police have been deployed around the jail keeping in view the sensitivity of Rajoana's case.
