Fatehgarh Sahib: Punjab Chief Minister
Parkash Singh Badal on Friday defended the state government`s
seeking clemency for death convict Balwant Singh Rajoana
saying since the mercy plea of the other co-accused was
pending in courts it was not at all justified to hang him till
the outcome of these appeals.
He told reporters here that the state government had
taken this stand "keeping in view the sentiments of the people
and in order to avoid any law and order problem".
Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa terror group member, has been
sentenced to death for killing former Punjab Chief Minister
Beant Singh RPT former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in
Chandigarh on August 31, 1995.
Earlier, addressing a gathering here, Badal appealed to
the people to maintain peace, communal harmony and amity in
the state and to thwart "anti-Punjab forces bent upon
vitiating the congenial atmosphere" in the state.
The Chief Minister said that unfortunately the recent
disturbances in the state have indicated that "anti Punjab
forces" were again trying to raise their ugly head to disturb
the hard-earned peace in the state.
Badal said though the state government was fully vigilant
to crush the "nefarious designs" of such forces the people of
the state also need to play a proactive role by extending
support to the government at this juncture.
PTI
