Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana says: Ready for hanging but when will culprits of Sikh genocide 1984 be hanged?

Patiala, Punjab (February 19, 2013): It is learnt that Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is facing death sentence in Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination case, has once again refused to appeal against his death sentence and reasserted his readiness to go to gallows.

He questioned that after Afzal Guru’s hanging, when the ‘butchers of Delhi who killed thousands of innocent Sikhs in November 1984 would be hanged?’

It is notable that thousands of innocent Sikhs were massacred and burnt alive during 1984 genocidal violence against the Sikhs in India. The perpetrators of the genocide were protected by the Indian state. Due to state patronage the culprits were able to evaded prosecution for last 28 years. Many culprits were rewarded with political positions by the state.

In a four page letter reportedly written from Patiala jail on February 16, 2013 Bhai Rajoana has mentioned that after Afzal Guru’s execution major political parties were asking one another to clear their position on his hanging.

“With this letter I want to make my position clear once again that I am not ready to bow before the Congress. Neither I earlier pleaded for mercy nor will I do it in future. They can test my determination at any time,” the letter stated.

It is notable that Punjab’s current Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had lobbied with central government of India to seek commutation of death sentence awarded to Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Rajoana’s hanging was scheduled to take place on March 31, 2012 but was postponed in wake of a review petition moved before President of India by SGPC and Badal Dal.