Petition against court’s order yet to be filed

A day after a sessions court ordered that death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana be hanged as scheduled on March 31, no petition was filed on Wednesday in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the order. Patiala Jail Superintendent L S Jakhar, whose petition seeking deferment of the execution was dismissed by the court, nor the Punjab government have so far filed any appeal against the order.

On whether the government would file a petition on Thursday Punjab Additional Advocate General Anoopinder Singh Grewal said: "As of now, I cannot say when this will be done."

BJP's double standards?

"Will we wrap garlands around (militants) necks?" — was what BJP president Nitin Gadkari had said in May 2010 while slamming the UPA government for going soft on terrorists "keeping in mind votebank politics". The same BJP, however, seems to be a mute spectator now while its ally in Punjab, the SAD, is seeking clemency for Rajoana. When contacted, state BJP president Ashwani Sharma claimed: "BJP is against terrorism, but every individual has the right to exercise his legal options. The prime objective is that law and order should not get disrupted in Punjab." When reminded that not Balwant but the government was exercising political and legal options to seek relief for him, Ashwani said: "Peace in Punjab should be maintained and BJP's stand is very clear on the issue."

'Akali legislators supporting bandh'

Questioning the BJP's "silence" on the Balwant Singh Rajoana issue, the state Congress on Wednesday accused the SAD of supporting the bandh called by different Sikh organisations. "Why is the BJP is silent (on the issue of Rajaona)...they should clear their stand... the government is backing the bandh call," Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar said in the Assembly.

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