Bjp Steers Clear Of Row, Says It’S For Court To Decide

[Azaad]

The Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit today held that the law should be allowed to take its own course in the Beant Singh murder case.

The party also ruled out supporting any resolution calling for clemency to former Chief Minister Beant Singh's assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the party's state leaders, office-bearers and newly elected legislators, which was presided over by BJP national vice-president Shanta Kumar and state chief Ashwani Kumar Sharma.

There was an overwhelming opinion in the meeting that the laid-down norms should be respected in the case. The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders said the party was against terrorism and its leaders and workers in Punjab had borne the brunt of with former president Hit Abhilashi and youth leader Tarsem Singh Bahar paying with their lives for standing against the menace. The leaders said even in today's context, the party did not want to strengthen the divisive forces in the border state.

In the light of this discussion, it was decided that the SAD should be advised not to present any such resolution seeking clemency for Rajoana in the Vidhan Sabha. The leaders, however, expressed confidence in the sagacity of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. A leader pointed out that Badal had admitted that the law could not be bypassed even though he respected the directives of the Akal Takht.

The BJP's decision is in line with its earlier policy. The party had earlier also refused to become party to any resolution calling for clemency to Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, who in on death row after being indicted in an assassination attempt on former Indian Youth Congress president Maninderjit Singh Bitta.

Meanwhile, the meeting congratulated Punjab election in-charge JP Nadda for the "intense work" put in by him in the state.

The leaders said the soothsayers who had predicted a whitewash for the Bharatiya Janata Party had been proved wrong and that the party had been able to retain a substantial hold in the state. They also decided to conduct an exercise to identify the factors that led to the party's defeat in the remaining constituencies.

Clergy to review title decision

Amritsar: A day after Balwant Singh Rajoana turned down the title of "Zinda Shaheed" (living martyr), Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Sunday said the matter would be discussed in the next meeting of the Sikh high priests. Talking to mediapersons here, the Jathedar said, "We respect Rajoana's sentiments and will discuss the issue in the meeting of the Sikh clergy…. The meeting may happen any time keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue." — TNS

SIKH HIGH PRIESTS MAY MEET TODAY

Amritsar: As the countdown to March 31, the day when Balwant Singh Rajoana is to be hanged, has begun, there are reports that the Sikh high priests may hold yet another meeting in Amritsar on Monday. Sources said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has asked the other Sikh high priests to reach the holy city on Monday. However, the points to be discussed in the meeting are likely to become clear only by the morning.