Balwant Singh Rajoana, sentenced to death in former chief minister Beant Singh’s assassination case, on Wednesday urged Sikhs to unite and strengthen their organizations for the survival of the community.

Speaking at his brother Kulwant Singh’s bhog (prayer meeting) at a gurdwara in his native Rajoana Kalan village in Ludhiana district, the Babbar Khalsa International supporter said Sikh organizations had weakened due to internal politics and external conspiracies.

Rajoana, who has been in jail since his arrest in December 1995, was brought to his native village after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him three hours’ parole to attend the prayer meeting that followed the death of Kulwant Singh on November 4.

He requests the commutation of his death sentence for “extraordinary and excessive delay” in the decision relating to his request for pardon filed by the President. The plea is being heard in the Supreme Court, with the next hearing scheduled for November 25.

Addressing the participants, Rajoana said, “If there were no organizations like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Sikh kaum (community) would be much weaker. It is time to strengthen these institutions for our survival. He said internal politics had weakened these organizations.

He alleged a central government conspiracy, saying: “The Center conspired against the Sikhs by sending tanks and army to Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and killing Sikh youths. Today, they kept me in the “fansi chakki” (death row cell) for 18 years, following the same conspiracy.

About his trial and conviction, he said: “I confessed to committing the crime in court, but even then the trial lasted 12 years and I was sentenced to death. However, I have no animosity towards anyone.

He criticized those who initially supported him but later turned against him, saying: “The people who had promised to honor us with gold for completing our task threw stones at us after our conviction.” »

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami praised Rajoana for her services to the Sikh community, saying, “If Rajoana had not fought for the Panth, the situation of the Sikhs would have been much worse. »

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh questioned the disparity in granting parole, pointing out that while Rajoana was given only three hours to attend the bhog of her brother, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, convicted of serious crimes including rape and murder, was granted multiple parole. times.

Former minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia expressed hope that the court would release Rajoana. “We pray for his release so that he can serve his family and the Sikh panthe. We also urge everyone to include prayers for Bandi Sikhs (imprisoned Sikhs) in their daily prayers,” he said. The prayer meeting was also attended by Sikh leaders and politicians, including Tarsem Singh, the father of imprisoned Khadoor Sahib MP and Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, former minister Mahesinder Singh Grewal and SAD vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema , among others.