Power Of Khalsa

The Centre on Wednesday stayed the hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, reports said.

The crucial decision was taken following Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan here to seek her intervention in saving Balwant Singh Rajoana from the gallows.

During the meeting Badal's son and Deputy Cheif Minister of Punjab Sukhvir Singh Badal, MPs from SAD and SGPC chief were present.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron had yesterday said that his government would support the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) sent to President seeking conversion of Rajoana's death sentence to a life term.

The SAD-BJP government and the Congress in the state have demanded grant of clemency to Rajoana.

The Chandigarh trial court on Tuesday had returned the death warrant of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for assassinating former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, to Patiala Jail and ordered his execution on March 31.

The additional district and sessions judge Shalini Nagpal also issued a contempt of court notice to the Patiala central jail Superintendent Lakhwinder Singh Jakhar, who had appeared before her to return the death warrant against Rajoana on Monday.

Announcing the judgement, the sessions court directed the Patiala Jail authorities "for urgent compliance" in the Beant Singh assassination case of 1995.

A near total bandh today disrupted normal life in Punjab as shops and commercial establishments remained closed to protest the proposed execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana convicted in the Beant Singh assassination case.

The day-long shut down was called by radical Sikh outfits and other social organisations to protest the scheduled execution of Rajoana.

A blanket of saffron colour enveloped Punjab with women carrying same colour dupattas, Sikhs with saffron head gear and saffron flags donning residential and commercial establishments.

Shops, commercial establishments, offices and various educational institutions were closed. A number of examinations scheduled for the day by state educational institutions have also been deferred.

The protest in Punjab started after the Chandigarh trial court yesterday returned the death warrant of Balwant Singh Rajoana to Patiala Jail and ordered his execution on March 31.