Protest in Delhi against death penalty to Bhullar on March 30

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/40499289.cms
Protest in Delhi against death penalty to Bhullar on March 30

LUDHIANA: A protest spearheaded by Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar Defence Committee, which represents Sikh bodies, political groups and other organisations, will be staging a demonstration in Delhi on March 30 to protest against the death penalty awarded to Bhullar on the charge of plotting to murder a Congress leader. Before staging a protest in Delhi, the committee will be raising the issue at Holla Mohalla celebrations in Anandpur Sahib on March 19. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting at Amb Sahib in Mohali on March 14 where a unanimous resolution was passed to this effect, said DS Gill, co-ordinator of the committee. Justice A S Bains in strong words censured the Supreme Court for rejecting the curative plea filed by former union law minister Ram Jethmalani on behalf of Prof Bhullar and said that ‘‘the SC has exposed itself as a tool in the hands of ruling politicians who seem to be committed to finish off the minorities’’. Many other speakers rejected the view expressed by Jethmalani that he would like to file a fresh writ under Article 32 of the Constitution. Former finance minister and Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the Sikhs should not expect much from the judiciary. ‘‘The time has come for a struggle,” he declared. Even, Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat convener Bhai Rajinder Singh Khurana recommended that ‘‘we should not approach the President of India for pardon as they are committed to running down the minorities’’. ‘‘We, the Sikhs have lost faith in the Indian judicial system,’’ he added. Despite Sikh bodies in Delhi seeking postponement of the protest as a Delhi-based eminent lawyer would again approach the Supreme Court, All India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) Youth Wing President Karnail Singh Panjoli said: ‘‘We should not wait for too long or it will be too late for anything.” The Holla Mohalla, he said, should be used as a platform to mobilise public opinion on the issue. SAD (Amritsar) leader Charan Singh Lohara said, ‘‘Sikhs are on their agenda as Muslims have been in Gujarat. That’s why they have charged Simranjit Singh Mann under Tada after 15 years.” ‘‘This house of Panthic organisations strongly condemns the Supreme Court’s rejection of the curative plea of Bhullar sentencing him to death without evidence. And in protest, this house calls on all Panthic organisations and Sikhs to join the protest march and rally to be held at Delhi on March 30,” reads the resolution.