Bir Devinder Singh Warns Union Government Not To Play With Fire

[Azaad]

Terming the peace of the state as ‘too fragile’ to withstand the emotional jolt the state may face if Balwant Singh Rajoana is hanged, Bir Devinder Singh, a former deputy speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, while castigating the Congress and the BJP has said that the state government was involved in ‘simple tactics’ which may not absolve it of its responsibility to save the state of Punjab from the imminent harrowing agony it is bound to suffer in case of execution of Rajoana.

Asking SAD to get a resolution passed in Vidhan Sabha for the abolition of capital punishment and urging the Union Government to follow suit, Bir Devinder Singh said. ‘‘The emerging scenario, as I perceive today would be, “Sikhs versus the Indian State”. If the government of India genuinely wishes to salvage the situation, the Governor of Punjab, taking cognizance of such resolution can move the case to the Union Home Ministry but if they still wish to play with fire, so it be’, he said.

‘If both the governments agree to bring in and pass such resolutions, the execution of the death penalty awarded to Balwant Singh Rajoana could could be kept in abeyance till such time’, he suggested.

In a statement issued here, Bir Devinder Singh said that although the Superintendent of central jail Patiala has returned the death warrant of Balwant Singh Rajoana taking refuge under the pretext of the territorial jurisdiction of the State to execute the Death warrant, but this simple tactic will be of no use as the state is bound to suffer irrespective of the fact where Rajoana is hanged. He said it does not make any difference whether he is hanged at Patiala, Chandigarh or Delhi.

Reacting to the statement of Sunil Jakhar, leader of Congress Legislature Party in Punjab, the former deputy speaker said that it clearly indicates the mindset of the party that further manifests that the party had learned nothing and forgotten nothing.

‘Congress has rather failed miserably to read between the lines and comprehend the dangerously volatile situation emerging as the aftermath of the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana. In view of the firm, unambiguous and solemn resolve of Balwant Singh Rajoana to embrace the gallows without showing any resilience and the direct involvement of Sri Akal Takht in the matter the situation has become much more complex and cumbersome’, he said.

Taking a dig at BJP, Bir Devinder Singh said, ‘Unfortunately the position of BJP, a coalition partner of the Akalis seems to be no better, as they have a morbid mined leader like Shanta Kumar at the helm of the affairs of the party in the state’.

Pointing a finger towards Pakistan, Bir Devinder Singh warned that the role of tormented and hostile neighbor, across the Punjab border, should not be under estimated. ‘Pakistan and its agencies are certainly eyeing to take full advantage of the resultantly emerging combustible situation in Punjab’, he said.

He reminded that Punjab had been bleeding and suffered immensely during the most excruciating times for more than a decade i.e. from 1983 onwards. Drawing parallels between the situation then and now he said, ‘If the developments in the precincts of Golden Temple and the overactive role of the Akal Takhat is any indication then it is certainly reminiscent to the similar developments way back in 1983’.