As the death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana continues his hunger strike in protest against the delay in deciding his mercy petition, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday urged the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to favorably dispose of the plea on the grounds of “Sikh sentiments as well as need to maintain the hard won peace of Punjab”. 

Rajoana, one of the assassins of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh in over two-decade back incident, has claimed that the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) moved the mercy plea “without his consent”. 

SAD delegation, including senior leaders and MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Prem Singh Chandumajra besides former MP Tarlochan Singh and SGPC president Gobind Singh longowal, apprised the Home Minister about the case, including the fact that Rajoana had started a fast unto death in the Patiala Central Jail to protest against the delay in processing of the mercy petition filed on his behalf before the President in 2012.

The then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had met the President Pratibha Patil on March 29, 2012, two days before the scheduled hanging of Rajoana, to hand over a mercy petition on behalf of the State government seeking clemency for the death row convict.

Giving details, Bhundur said that the Home Minister listened to the views of the delegation in a positive frame of mind and informed that he would ask for relevant reports in the case so that necessary action could be taken.

Bhundur said that granting mercy to Rajoana would go a long way in healing the wounds of the turbulent era in Punjab’s history.

Meanwhile, Bhundur said that the Congress government should also do its bit for ensuring relief for Rajoana. “Chief Minister Capt Amarinder should also make a formal representation in this regard and pursue the clemency appeal in earnest…Capt Amarinder should also take up this issue with the Home Minister in person so that there is complete clarity that the Punjab government also supports the mercy petition,” he added.