JAGMOHAN SINGH
Akal Takht asks SGPC to ensure release of Rajona by next year
Amritsar, Nov 27, 2018 - Akal Takht the highest Sikh temporal seat has directed the Sikh religious body Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) here today to ensure release of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajona by next year.
During the meet of five Sikh head priests led by Jathedar Akal Takht Gyani Harpreet Singh has asked the SGPC to do the needful to ensure the release of Rajoana before the next 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji which falls next year November.
Jathedar said that mercy petition of Rajoana was coming pending for the last seven years before the President of India and nothing has been done for its disposal.
Jathedar asked the SGPC there should be sincere efforts be applied, so that appeal before the president of India could be heard for positive outcome.
However, Balwant Singh Rajoana was the prime accused and convicted for the assassination of the then serving Punjab chief Minister Beant Singh in August 31, 1995. He was awarded death sentence on Aug 1, 2007 by the special CBI court in Chandigarh. Beant Singh Killed by Rajoana’s associate Dilawar Singh and Rajoana was the backup human bomb to be used had the Dilawar failed to assassinate Beant Singh.
Rajoana was sentenced to death by a special CBI court and his execution was scheduled for 31 March 2012. On 28 March 2012 India's Home Ministry stayed the execution following clemency appeals filed by the SGPC.
The fie Sikh head priests today also commended the decision of India and Pakistan Governments for providing special Corridor to Indian Sikh pilgrims to have direct access to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan from Indian side which has merely four kilometers distance if the corridor is built over the Ravi river. As per Sikh history the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji had spent last days of his life in Kartarpur now falling in Pakistan.