`SAD likely to file review petition in Bhullar`s case`

Patiala: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is mulling to file a review petition in the Supreme Court after it had rejected the petition of Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar to commute his death sentence.

"Our senior advocates have been joined their heads in the national capital and discussing the possibility of review petition against the Supreme Court verdict," party secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told reporters here. Dhindsa said that the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal would separately request President Pranab Mukherjee in this regard. Asked about party`s stand as JD(U) has decided to support the candidature of BJP stalwart LK Advani for the prime ministerial post, he said that it was "hypothetical" condition and SAD will give its point of view when the meeting of NDA would be called. He, however, said that the BJP has not yet announced its candidate for the top post, adding that the party is ready for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The 75-year-old Akali stalwart said that he was ready to contest from Sangrur parliament constituency if asked by the party high command. Meanwhile at Chandigarh, Congress leader and former MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira alleged that after the confirmation of death sentence to Bhullar, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leaders are now "beating their chests" and are issuing statements to save him. "First, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal should clearly spell out their stand on the issue and also the contradictory approaches they have been adopting so far," he said. The Supreme Court had on April 12 dismissed Khalistan Liberation Force terrorist`s plea for commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on ground of delay in deciding his mercy petition. Bhullar was awarded death penalty for triggering a bomb blast here in September 1993, killing nine people and injuring 25 others, including then Youth Congress president MS Bitta. PTI