Parkash Singh Badal (R) with son Sukhbir Singh Badal  |  Photo Credit: PTI
Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday demanded the release of 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar from jail.
He also urged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to sign his release papers, arguing Bhullar’s jail term has been completed.
In an official statement, Badal said, “Both Centre and judiciary approved the release of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who has completed his jail term, but due to some unknown reasons, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is not signing release papers.”
“This matter should not be kept pending, as it is not in the interest of the state and country. It is an emotional issue, and I request Delhi CM Kejriwal to personally look into it,” he added.
It should be noted that Bhullar was convicted in connection with the killing of nine people and injuring of 31 in the Delhi blast of 1993. Among those who survived the attack is former Youth Congress chief MS Bitta.
Bhullar was awarded the death penalty by a designated TADA court in August 2001 but his capital punishment was commuted to life sentence by the Supreme Court in 2014.
The Centre in September 2019 had recommended special remission to eight Sikh prisoners, including Bhullar, to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
It has been alleged by some Sikh bodies that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has not given its clearance for the release of Bhullar.
A few days ago, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had also accused the Delhi government of obstructing Bhullar’s release.