Amritsar (Gurpreet SIngh): The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that it will strictly abide by the orders of the Akal Takht regarding the withdrawal of Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition. SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed the media on Wednesday, following a high-stakes letter from Rajoana to the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Dhami clarified that since the original clemency plea filed in 2012 was based on the instructions of the then-Sikh leadership and Panthic sentiments, any decision to rescind it must also flow from the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs.
In his letter from Patiala Central Jail, Rajoana, who is on death row for the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh—issued a 10-day ultimatum for the withdrawal of the petition. He described the 14-year delay by the Central government as “national humiliation” and “mental torture,” stating that he no longer wishes to seek mercy from a system that has kept his fate in limbo for decades. Rajoana argued that the pending petition has become a tool for political maneuvering rather than justice, and its continuation is an insult to his resolve.
Advocate Dhami acknowledged the gravity of Rajoana’s request, noting that the Jathedar is already in possession of the letter. He emphasized that the SGPC is committed to implementing whatever directive the Akal Takht issued, whether it be to maintain the legal battle or to honour Rajoana’s wish to end the process. The SGPC has historically maintained that the petition should not be withdrawn as it represents the collective emotions of the Sikh community, but the President’s latest statement suggests a shift toward total deference to the Jathedar’s upcoming decision.
As the 10-day window provided by Rajoana begins, the eyes of the Sikh community and political observers are on Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. The Jathedar’s decision will determine the future of one of India’s longest-running capital punishment cases and could have significant implications for the broader movement regarding “Bandi Singhs” (Sikh prisoners). For now, the SGPC remains in a state of readiness, waiting for the final “Hukam” (order) to resolve the stalemate that has persisted since the clemency plea was first moved over a decade ago.
