CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday took on J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah for asking for the hanging of former Punjab CM Beant Singh's assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana, saying the convict's hanging would cause unrest in Punjab.
SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra said the Badal-led Punjab government would continue defending the commuting of Rajoana's death penalty. "We have earlier said that the party is against capital punishment," he said.
Chandumajra slammed Omar for asking the UPA government to treat Rajaona's case just like that of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and not be selective in executing those convicted of attacking symbols of democracy. "Omar should not speak out of turn," he said. "There's no doubt that the decision to hang Guru was political. It's better if he restricts his political comments to his state."
Omar had questioned the UPA government on why it was also not in a hurry to carry out the executions of the killers of Beant Singh and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Defending SAD's stand of asking for mercy for Rajoana, Chandumajra said it was only to avoid any possibility of community clashes in the state. Rajoana was awarded the death sentence by a Central Bureau of Investigation special court in July 2007 — along with another terrorist, Jagtar Singh Hawara — in the Beant Singh assassination case.
'Fear of Modi glory led to Afzal hanging'
SAD general secretary Chandumajra on Monday said the Congress took "remedial action" to hang Afzal Guru after becoming fearful of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's increasing popularity as a national leader. "The decision to hang Guru was a political move by the Congress," he said. "They fear Modi's growing popularity among the masses." Chandumajra said his party would support the BJP if they chose Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Shiromani Akali Dal defends Rajoana clemency demand
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Shiromani Akali Dal defends Rajoana clemency demand
