Out on 3-hr parole, Rajoana calls upon Sikhs to unite for survival

LUDHIANA: Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh who was out of jail on a three-hour parole to attend a prayer meet for his deceased brother, on Wednesday urged Sikhs to unite and strengthen their organisations for the survival of the community.

- Tarsem Singh Deogan

Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the blast that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, was granted parole by the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday to attend the bhog ceremony (prayer meet after the funeral) of his brother Kulwant Singh Raj oana.

Addressing the gathering in presence at Rajoana Kalan in Ludhiana district, Rajoana called for unity in the "Khalsa Panth" (Sikh community).

"I want to say the 'Khalsa Panth, should unite and gather strength.. The more our organisations are strong, the more our rights remain protected," he said in the presence of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami.