On assurance from Longowal, Rajoana defers planned hunger strike
KI Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is facing death sentence for assassinating former chief minister of Punjab, Beant Singh and has been awarded death penalty, had decided to go on a hunger strike against the SGPC for its “lack of support” in pursuing his appeal for commuting his death sentence. He is serving his term at Patiala’s central jail.
A delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) led by its president Gobind Singh Longowal, former president Kirpal Singh Badungar along with others met Balwant Singh Rajoana, to persuade him to not to go on strike ,who has been awarded death penalty for the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, at high security Patiala’s central jail .
Kamaldeep Kaur sister of Rajoana , confirmed that “on assurance from Longowal, Rajoana defers planned hunger strike on January-11. She further confirmed that it all happened when SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal met him in the prison and assured him all legal help in assisting his case”.
“We have assured him that the SGPC will take up with the Centre the matter of not commuting his death penalty. We will also explore all available legal options and move Supreme Court accordingly. Longowal said it was sad that the Union government took a U turn and Rajoana’s death sentence was not commuted.” Longowal said.He further said that this decision of the centre has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Central government had earlier included Rajoana’s name to the list of eight Sikh prisoners who are undergoing sentences for crimes that took place during the militancy period, under a special remission by the Centre as a humanitarian gesture on the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev.
