Sukhbir to meet Modi, Shah over Rajoana’s sentence; Bittu angry

Tribune News Service
Ludhiana/Chandigarh, Jan 3

SAD president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has stated the SAD leadership will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and request them to commute the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in the Beant Singh assassination case. Sukhbir drew the ire of Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu who said "it exposed his real face."

Sukhbir Badal, along with Akali leaders, including Daljit Singh Cheema, visited the residence of Rajoana’s sister in Ludhiana on Friday. Badal said, “Our party’s core committee meeting was held today and we decided that our party leadership will meet both Prime Minister and Home Minister soon. We will appeal to them to commute the death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana.”

Badal also appealed to Balwant Singh Rajoana to cancel his hunger strike, which he is to start from January 11.

Bittu said, "The Akalis have stood with the murderers and showed their true mentality to the peace-loving Punjabis. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal has announced to provide legal aid to Rajoana, showing real face of the Akalis." Bittu said late Beant Singh had attained martyrdom while safeguarding the rights of Punjabis and maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state.

“Thousands of people lost their lives during the dark days of terrorism in the state and the Akalis standing in the favour of perpetrators of the crimes has exposed their real face. It clearly shows that the Akalis led by Sukhbir Singh Badal have always supported such people,” rued Bittu.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.