Government stays hanging of Punjab CM's assassin
29 Mar 2012
The union government yesterday stayed hanging of Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana, on the death rowfor the assassination of late chief minister Beant Singh.
Citing unnamed government sources, The Times of India reported that the hanging, which was scheduled for 31 March had been stayed following a petition filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, the top Sikh religious body. The decision to withhold action on the sentence was taken since a petition was filed in line with the guidelines followed in such cases.
The scheduled hanging of Rajoana created a turmoil the political situation in Punjab with the ruling Akali Dal campaigning against his execution with its coalition partner BJP opposed to such a course of action.
At a personal level, state Congress leaders had been favouring clemency.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal met president Pratibha Patil last evening and called for clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana.
On Sunday his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, had asked the state government to take all possible steps to secure clemency for Rajoana.
