SAD-SGPC delegation meets Rajnath
AMRITSAR/PATIALA : A joint delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Wednesday met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, demanding immediate disposal of the mercy plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, the death row convict in the assassination case of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.
Rajoana is sitting on hunger strike for three days in the Patiala central jail, accusing the SGPC and SAD of not pursuing his mercy petition which was filed with the President in 2012.
The delegation, led by SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal, comprised Akali MPS Prem Singh Chandumajra (Anandpur Sahib), Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (Rajya Sabha), Balwinder Singh Bhunder (Rajya Sabha) and Ranjit Singh Brahampura (Khadoor Sahib) and former parliamentarian Tarlochan Singh. However, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was not part of the delegation as earlier announced.
Longowal said, “We have got an assurance from the Union home minister that he would raise the issue with the President. He also assured to extend every possible help from his side.”
Chandunajra said they pressed on to commute Rajoana’s death sentence into life imprisonment.the SGPC had announced on Monday to meet Rajnath after Rajoana went on hunger strike.
In 2012, a court had issued Rajoana’s death warrants but SGPC approached the Supreme Court and filed a mercy petition before the President on the militant’s behalf. The health department has deputed a team of doctors in the Patiala jail to keep tabs on Rajoana’s health.
SGPC CHIEF LONGOWAL SAID UNION MINISTER HAS ASSURED ALL HELP FROM HIS SIDE BESIDES RAISING THE ISSUE WITH THE PRESIDENT