Dal Khalsa seeks UN intervention to abolish death penalty

Amritsar, Apr 5 (PTI) Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa today said it has sought intervention of United Nations in persuading India to join the ranks of countries which have abolished the death penalty. The European chapter of the radical Sikh organisation knocked at the doors of the UN urging the world body to influence India to continue its undeclared moratorium and work toward abolishing death penalty, said Kanwar Pal Singh spokesperson of the group. The group's disclosure comes close on the heels of a stay on hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on death row for killing of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. On March 28, the Centre stayed hanging of Rajoana following a mercy plea. We have taken a cue from UN resolution passed on September 20, 2010 appealing all nations to observe a moratorium on the death penalty if they are not agreeable to passing a legislation abolishing it, he said. "Our abroad representatives have urged UN to influence the world's largest democracy to dismantle the gallows forever," Singh told media here. Recently a three-member delegation, led by party's secretary for human rights Prithpal Singh Khalsa met Safir Syed, officer in the Civil Society Section of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and submitted a memorandum expressing their opposition to capital punishment in principle. The organisation wants to see a world without the noose, he said. Keeping in mind the union government's decision to halt the hanging of Babbar Khalsa militant Balwant Singh Rajoana for the time being, the letter "asked the UN officials to act fast as life hangs by the cliff for many, including Rajoana, on the death row in Indian prisons," he said.