Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday supported the demand for release of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for the assassination of then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Mr. Tewari’s remark came a day after fellow party MP Ravneet Singh had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to give any relief to Mr. Rajoana “as it could have devastating ramifications for Punjab’s future”.
“Being a terror victim, I understand the anguish of my colleague @RavneetBittu but as a lawyer and MP from Punjab it is my considered view-S.Balwant Singh Rajoana having served 26 years in prison his death sentence be commuted to life and he be released by passing orders under Section 432 CRPC (Code of Criminal Procedure),” said Mr. Tewari in a tweet.
“..Criminal jurisprudence of incarceration needs to be grounded in reformation and not retribution.”
Mr. Ravneet Singh had written to the Prime Minister stating that he “senses a sinister design in the repeated pleas of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders to secure the expeditious release of Balwant Singh Rajoana”.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had on April 18 written to the Prime Minister urging him to intervene and ensure the expeditious release of Mr. Rajoana.
