Beant killer wants no mercy, terms Akalis 'traitors of religion'

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government may have pledged to make all possible attempts to save him from the gallows, but Balwant Singh Rajoana has scant regard for the "neeliyan paggaan wale (blue-turbaned)" leaders.

"I read it in newspapers that the Akali leadership, SAD-BJP government and the Shiromaani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) are making efforts to get me mercy. Let me make it clear that I don't want or need any mercy of the leaders of an Indian State that I do not believe in," said Rajoana, the Babbar Khalsa militant convicted in the Beant Singh assassination case and currently lodged in Patiala Central Jail, in letter sent to the media through his sister Kamaljeet Kaur.

He described the Akali leaders as "cheaters of Sikh religion", who "deserted the original path of Sikhism under pressure of the Delhi-based central government". For the denial of justice to several victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, too, Rajoana blamed the entire Akali leadership of Punjab.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK for detailed news.