AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the Government of India was deliberately delaying the pardon of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, while the Supreme Court had directed the government to take a decision in this regard.
She said that a letter would be written by the SGPC to the Home Ministry of India for an early decision in the matter.
Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur, sister of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana arrived at the SGPC headquarters here today to meet Bibi Jagir Kaur, who asked the SGPC President to approach the Center to resolve the matter.
Bibi Jagir Kaur assured Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur that the SGPC was already serious about Bhai Rajoana's case and a letter would be written to the Home Ministry in this regard.
Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the government was pursuing a policy of evasion in this matter, while the government had been given clear instructions on the appeal filed by the SGPC in the Supreme Court.
She said that Bhai Rajoana's name was among the eight prisoners announced by the Government of India on the occasion of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. Under this decision, Bhai Rajoana's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Government of India, but sadly, the government did not implement its own decision in this case.
She said that an appeal was filed by the SGPC in the Supreme Court on September 7, 2020, during which on December 4, 2020, the Supreme Court had directed the Union Government to take an early decision.
Following the government's procrastination, on January 25, 2021, the Supreme Court issued strict orders for a decision within two weeks, while the government asked the Supreme Court for another six weeks for a decision on February 12, 2021.
She said that he has not taken any decision even in the time requested by the government.
Bibi Jagir Kaur said that 26 years have passed since Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana was sentenced, which is equivalent to twice life imprisonment.
She appealed to the Government of India to take an early decision in the matter of pardoning Bhai Rajoana.