Amritsar: In a significant development from Patiala Central Jail, Balwant Singh Rajoana has sent an emotional and strongly worded letter to the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Rajoana, who faces a death sentence for the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, has demanded that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) immediately withdraw the mercy petition filed on his behalf. Expressing deep frustration over the 14-year delay in his case, he stated that the prolonged legal uncertainty has become a form of mental torture more severe than the execution itself.
The letter, dated April 1, 2026, explicitly instructs the SGPC to rescind the clemency plea currently pending before the President of India within the next 10 days. Rajoana questioned the functioning of both the Central government and various Sikh institutions, asserting that he has no desire to “beg for mercy” from the state. He emphasized that if the government remains unable or unwilling to reach a final decision after more than a decade, the Sikh leadership should end the process themselves by withdrawing the petition.
Rajoana’s stance marks a pivotal moment in a case that has seen years of complex legal and political maneuvering. The SGPC had originally filed the mercy petition in 2012 to prevent his hanging, citing the sensitive nature of the case and the sentiments of the Sikh community. However, Rajoana has consistently maintained a defiant posture, refusing to personally appeal for leniency and often criticizing the institutional delays that have kept him on death row for a quarter of a century.
As the 10-day deadline begins, the pressure shifts to the Akal Takht and the SGPC to respond to the convict’s demand. The decision carries significant weight for Punjab’s socio-political landscape, as the Rajoana case remains a flashpoint for discussions on judicial delays and the rights of death row inmates. For now, the administration and Sikh leadership face a difficult choice between continuing their long-standing legal battle for his life or honouring the prisoner’s request to conclude the matter.
