Differences have arisen between Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP over the Supreme Court order rejecting Khalistani militant Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s petition for commuting death sentence.
Even as the BJP downrightly asserted that it does “no compromise with terrorism”, the Akali Dal has maintained that it would seek a “presidential review” on the issue.
The Apex Court on Friday dismissed Bhullar’s plea for commuting his death sentence to life on the grounds of “eight-year delay” in deciding his mercy plea by the President. Condemning the Supreme Court’s order, SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra said: We are deeply sad at the judgement...We did not expect it. We felt that in this case, instead of going by legal and technical grounds, the sentiments of the community and humanity should have been taken into consideration.”
Chandumajra made it clear that no one should get an opportunity “to disturb the hard-earned peace and development” of the State which has returned after two decades of terrorism in Punjab. He added that the party would “appeal to the President to review his decision, and also appeal to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter as Bhullar is mentally sick”.
On the contrary, its ally BJP has a divergent view. “We do no compromise with terrorism, and the people who work against the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the country. The law has taken its own course,” BJP MlA and spokesperson Manoranjan Kalia told The Pioneer.
Training his guns at the terrorism, Kalia categorically maintained, “The BJP has its policy clear, right from the beginning, that it is totally against any terrorism, in whatever form it is.”