Centre stays hanging

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With the whole of Punjab on the boil for the past two days, the Centre on Wednesday decided to stay the hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, on death row for the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. The hanging was scheduled for Saturday.

The decision came after the SGPC, the Sikhs’ highest religious body, submitted a mercy petition and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal met President Pratibha Patil late Wednesday evening.
Union law minister Salman Khurshid had said earlier in the day: “Whatever the law allows in terms of petitions, in terms of appeals, in terms of reviews, these are there for everybody. The law of the land is there for everyone to follow.”
Government sources said the hanging was put on hold following the SGPC petition. Mr Badal too handed over a mercy petition on behalf of the Punjab government seeking clemency for Rajoana.
The Congress and the BJP both maintained a safe distance from the issue, saying the law should be allowed to take its own course. The BJP is a coalition partner of the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab.
Mr Badal had met senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday to seek that party’s support on clemency, where party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Shanta Kumar were also present. The BJP refused to intervene.
Party spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said Wednesday: “The party is clear... The rule of law needs to take its course.” Sources said the BJP fears if it opposes the court verdict it will have to give up its long-standing demand for the quick execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Sources said the hanging was kept in abeyance since a petition was filed in line with guidelines followed in such cases. The President is learnt to have forwarded the mercy plea to the Union home ministry, which will now take a final call.