Rajnath Singh to talk to Parkash Singh Badal over his plea for release of 13 terrorists

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said he will speak to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the wake of his letter to his counterparts in five states seeking premature release of 13 convicted terrorists.

"I will talk to him (Badal) on this issue," Singh told reporters here.

Badal, in his letter to Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat, has sought premature release of the convicted terrorists, including those responsible for assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Similar letters were also sent to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Administrator of Chandigarh.

The terrorists, whose release has been sought by Badal, include Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Gurmeet Singh who are serving life sentence in connection with the assassination of Beant Singh.

The move by Badal came after a Punjab resident, Gurbax Singh Khalsa, went on a hunger strike in Ambala in November 2014 demanding the release of six prisoners, including those convicted in Beant Singh assassination case.

Khalsa reportedly broke his fast following promise of release of Lakhwinder, Shamsher and Gurmeet (who were subsequently released on 28 days parole from Burail jail in Chandigarh) and assurance by Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh that he would take up the matter with the government.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is also believed to have written a a letter to the Union Home Ministry seeking the premature release of the sentenced prisoners.