Balwant Singh Rajoana urges Sri Akal Takht to withdraw mercy plea, says delay worse than death sentence
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), April 1, 2026: Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on death row in the assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, has written an emotional and strongly worded letter from jail to the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj.
In the letter, Rajoana has urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to immediately withdraw the mercy petition filed on his behalf against his death sentence.
Rajoana, questioning the functioning of both the Central government and Sikh institutions, said he has been waiting for a decision on his mercy plea for the past 14 years.
“Living on death row is worse than the execution itself. The prolonged delay is mentally torturous,” he wrote, adding that the pending petition should not be prolonged any further.
He has demanded that the SGPC withdraw the mercy plea pending before the President within the next 10 days, stating clearly that he does not seek any clemency.
“I do not want to beg for mercy. If the government is unable to take a decision, Sikh institutions should withdraw the petition and end the process,” he said.