Death row convict, Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana ended his indefinite hunger strike on Thursday, 10th november, which was started to protest against the inordinate delay by the Central government in taking a decision on his mercy petition which has been pending for several years now.
This followed after a prolonged meeting that the newly elected Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar held with Rajoana in the local Government Rajindra Hospital on Wednesday night.
Following this assurance from the newly appointed SGPC chief, Rajoana announced his decision to call off his indefinite hunger strike. Badungar offered a glass of fruit juice to Rajoana. On Thursday Rajoana was shifted hack to the Patiala Central Jail.
It is pertinent to mention that Rajoana had gone on an indefinite hunger strike on November 2 to protest against the inordinate delay by the Central government in taking a decision on his mercy petition which has been pending for several years now.
When he decided to go on hunger strike Rajoana had said in a letter addressed to the Khalsa Panth which was released by his sister Kamaljit Kaur that he would continue his fast till a final decision was taken on his petition.
Rajoana was to be hanged on March 31, 2012. A special CBI court had awarded capital punishment to Balwant Singh Rajoana and Jagtar Singh Hawara in the Beant Singh murder case. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had filed a mercy plea with the then President in 2012 which is still pending.