Amritsar, March 23
The Sikh high priests today issued directions to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar to meet President Pratibha Patil and make efforts to save Balwant Singh Rajoana, convict in former CM Beant Singh’s assassination, from the gallows. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh made this announcement after receiving suggestions from various Panthic, social and political organisations throughout the day and subsequently deliberating on them during a meeting of the Sikh clergy.

The Jathedar asked the CM and the SGPC president to take all possible measures to get Rajoana released without any condition. He also asked them to make the President aware about the "injustice being meted out to the Sikhs".

The Sikh clergy also gave a call for bandh on March 28, though not in a direct manner. They have asked the people to "refrain from work" on March 28 and perform "ardaas" for the "Chardi Kala" (high spirits) of Rajoana. "The men should sport saffron turbans while women should wear saffron dupattas on March 28. The people should also put up saffron flags on their vehicles and commercial establishments to support the cause," they said.

The Akal Takht Jathedar also declared Dilawar Singh, assassin of Beant Singh, a "national martyr" and Rajoana a "living martyr". The Sikh clergy lashed out at the government and the judiciary for “resorting to double standards”. "While the death sentence of Kishori Lal, convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Dara Singh, convicted in Graham Staines case, were commuted, this was not done in the case of Rajoana," it was stated.

They also opposed the capital punishment on humanitarian grounds. "The judiciary should try to award death penalty in minimum cases. Many countries have abolished death sentence and the same should be done here in the interest of humanity," it was stated.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed outside the Akal Takh Secretariat while the meeting of the Sikh clergy was on in the evening.

Activists of some Panthic outfits started raising slogans against the Akal Takht Jathedar, asking him to announce his decision in front of the gathering outside.