Balwant Singh Rajoana case: Amit Shah, PM Modi on different page in clemency criteria?

PTC Web Desk: Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks in the Lok Sabha regarding Sikh prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana's case have stirred a significant political debate. Amit Shah's stance, emphasising the necessity of remorse for clemency, has sparked controversy in the ongoing discussions surrounding Rajoana's life sentence.

In response to a mercy plea petition related to Sikh prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana's case, Amit Shah stated that "individuals not expressing regret for their actions should not be eligible for clemency". He emphasised the importance of acknowledging "wrongdoing". Besides, Amit Shah highlighted the limitation of extending clemency to a convict "who does not exhibit remorse, even if a third party files a mercy plea on their behalf".

The Lok Sabha discussion, initiated by Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal advocating for clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana, gained significance after Union minister Amit Shah's substantial statement. The Home Minister also acknowledged the petition filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, further intensifying the debate.

Balwant Singh Rajoana has been in jail for 28 years for his involvement in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, initially sentenced to death on March 31, 2012. However, the Punjab Government later commuted his sentence to life imprisonment following approval from the President of India. Currently in Patiala jail, Balwant Singh Rajoana's case has become a focal point of political deliberations.

The discussion resurfaced amidst previous orders by the Central Government during Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary in 2019, releasing eight Sikh prisoners and signaling a change in Rajoana's death sentence to life imprisonment. However, the implementation of this decision remains pending.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier announcement of altering Balwant Singh Rajoana's sentence to life imprisonment marked a significant shift. Nevertheless, Amit Shah's recent remarks suggesting a reassessment of the clemency plea have triggered opposition from various political quarters, intensifying the ongoing discourse over the sensitive issue.