Beant killer's execution stayed

Amitabh Shukla/Chandigarh

The suspense around the hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, which had kept Punjab on its toes for the last three days, finally ended on Wednesday with the Centre staying the execution of the militant, scheduled for March 31.

In a day of fast-paced developments, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal met President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday evening seeking clemency for the assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. During almost an half-an-hour-long meeting, Akali MPs, and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar were also present.

In his clemency plea, the Chief Minister pointed to the surcharged atmosphere in Punjab and the fact that the State had come out of violence after great efforts. He apprehended that hanging at this juncture could affect the law and order situation adversely. “It has become imperative for all of us tasked with safeguarding the interests and the destiny of the country to prevent the situation from sliding in that tragic direction. This is all the more important considering Punjab’s strategic geographical location, sharing a long active international border with Pakistan and contiguous to J&K, where forces hostile to the country have been active to destabilise conditions in the country,” Badal said in his letter seeking clemency.

Soon after meeting the President, a jubilant Badal announced that the Centre had stayed the execution of Rajoana. “Execution has been stayed. We are very happy,” Sukhbir, who also holds the Home Department, told the media after the meeting with the President.

The decision came soon after there was violence during the day-long bandh called by the hardliners and several Sikh organisations in the State. The bandh was complete with almost all shops closed and very few vehicles plying on the road. Yellow flags were plastered in the streets in several parts of the State. There were also indications that the bandh was turning communal when shopkeepers opposed it in some parts of Patiala and the border areas. Activists of the Shiv Sena clashed with the protesters, triggering fears of the protest turning communal. Heavy police presence prevented any untoward situation but the incident clearly indicated the stress the State was going through.

Referring it as the “accomplishment” of the efforts of the SAD-BJP Government, “people’s support” and the “God’s grace”, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the people to maintain the “hard earned” peace and communal harmony in the State. After Badal handed over the petition on behalf

of the Punjab Government seeking Balwant’s clemency, the President’s office sent it to the Union Home Ministry, following which the “written” stay orders were handed over to the Chief Minister.

Ironically, the ‘condemned man’ wanted the death warrants to be executed and resisted any sort of clemency even though the State Government, Sikh organisations and others are protesting against the execution orders.

Refuting charges of politicising the issue, Sukhbir Badal made it clear that it was “the duty of the State Government to go as per the law of the land…as long as the clemency plea is pending with the President and the cases of co-accused are awaiting decision, you cannot hang anyone”.

The Chief Minister also requested the people of the State to maintain peace and tranquility in the State, while warning of strict action against those “who don’t want to see peace in the State”. “Strict action would be taken against anyone who breaks law,” asserted Badal, in a Press conference after meeting with the President.

The State Government has been under immense pressure in the last few days with radical Sikh groups demanding Balwant’s clemency, sentenced to death for assassinating the then Chief Minister in 1995.

There was political unanimity in the state on the staying of execution with the State Congress supporting the decision of the Akali Dal to move a clemency petition. PCC president Captain Amarinder Singh hailed the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for staying the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana. At the same time he appealed to people of Punjab to maintain peace at all costs.

“The decision will go a long way in maintaining and safeguarding the hard earned peace in Punjab which has been established after a lot of sacrifices,” Amarinder said, hinting how important it was for the stay of the execution. (March 29, 2012)

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