The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday requested the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for getting the death sentence of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar commuted to life imprisonment.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal met the Prime Minister at his residence Monday morning and requested him to approach President Pranab Mukherjee to stay any further action on the execution of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and to get his death penalty commuted to life imprisonment.
“The process must be started for finding ways to ensure that the ends of justice do not clash with the long-term interests of the nation and with the objectives and operation of statesman-like approach in such sensitive matters. In the overall national interest, and in the interest of peace and communal harmony in the country in general, and in Punjab in particular, the death penalty in this case may be commuted to life imprisonment,” said the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister by the two leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
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PM keeps third term option open
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, April 15
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday kept open the option of accepting a third term. He, however, ruled out the possibility of early elections, saying his government would complete its five-year term ending in May next year. Responding to a question at an event organised by a TV news channel on whether he would accept a third term if asked, the PM said, “I have still some time to complete my present term.” To another poser, Dr Singh said he considers holding the top post in this vast country “a great honour” and his effort has been to rise up to the high expectations of the people.
Dr Singh has been PM for nine years.