PATIALA—In protest of an inordinate delay in his execution, the death row convict Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana today begun a hunger strike for an indefinite time in the Central Jail of Patiala. Notably, Bhai Rajoana has been waiting for his execution in an execution cell for the last 11 years.
Sikh24 has learnt that the SGPC and SAD leaders made numerous requests via several channels to stop Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana from beginning a hunger strike, but Bhai Rajoana remained adamant in his stance and commenced hunger strike.
Interacting with media, Bhai Rajoana’s foster sister Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur informed that Bhai Rajoana was forced to begin hunger strike as the SGPC didn’t follow up the mercy petition despite numerous requests by them. She added that the serving SGPC president S. Gobind Singh Longowal had promised to take up the matter with the Union Home Minister in April this year, but he didn’t deliver onto his promise and even the Akali parliamentarians didn’t give her time for appointment. “Watching no action on SGPC’s behalf, Bhai Rajoana has to begin indefinite hunger strike” she added.
Meanwhile, the SAD parliamentarian S. Prem Singh Chandumajra has said that he has scheduled an appointment with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on July 18. He added that a SAD delegation will meet Rajnath Singh on July 18 and will appeal him to commute the death penalty of Bhai Rajoana to life imprisonment.
It may be recalled here that the SGPC had moved a mercy petition (without the consent of Bhai Rajoana) before the President of India in March-2012 following which the Indian President had stayed his execution on March 28, 2012 i.e. just two days before the scheduled date of his execution.
This is the Indian system – corrupt and inhumane…….
Law makers are selfish & corrupt, courts are sleeping, minorities are being killed or totured.