Punjab: SAD seeks PM's intervention in Balwant Singh Rajoana's release

Chandigarh, April 18: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure the expeditious release of Balwant Singh Rajoana to fulfill the promise made to the Sikh community to release eight Sikh prisoners who have served more than the effective equivalent of a life sentence. While calling for the release of all such Sikh prisoners, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and expedite the matter of clemency of Balwant Singh Rajoana with the competent authority to commute the death penalty awarded to him and ensure his release at the earliest. The Union Government had approved the commutation of Rajoana’s death sentence to life imprisonment as a humanitarian gesture in 2019. Also read | Govt will investigate reasons behind Rs 3 lakh crore debt, says Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann  Sukhbir Badal said the issue warranted the urgent attention of the Prime Minister since a clemency petition under Article 72 of the Constitution of India, which was filed by the SGPC in March 25, 2012, was still pending with the President. The SAD chief said the Supreme Court had also issued a notice to the Centre to take a call on the mercy petition of Rajoana by April 30. He said the Sikh prisoner had already been incarcerated in prison for 26 years which was much longer than the effective duration of a life term. The SAD president also apprised the Prime Minister that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had submitted a resolution to the Centre to request for commuting Rajoana’s death sentence to life term and later for his release. He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which managed Sikh shrines and whose members were elected by the Sikh ‘sangat’ in a democratic manner, had also submitted representations on similar lines to the Centre. Sukhbir Badal said Sikhs worldwide desired that Rajoana be released and they were looking up to the Prime Minister to ensure the promise made to the community on the eve of the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was fulfilled. The SAD president also made a similar plea to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Also read | Punjab: 5 dead as car falls into Bhakra canal near Ropar; 2 kids missing -PTC News