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No faith in
Indian Justice
Balwant Singh
Rajoana
Hon’ble Chief
Justice
Punjab and
Haryana High Court
Chandigarh
Through the
Deputy Superintendent, Model Jail, Chandigarh
In the case
of Government of Punjab
versus Gurmeet Singh and Others (Beant Singh Assassination Case)
Your Honour, I
had informed the High Court, in an earlier communication too that I
have not appealed against the death sentence awarded to me in this
case by the Sessions Court, as I have no faith nor do I believe at
in the judicial system of this country, whereas the other convicts
in the case have filed appeals in the Court as they have faith in
the system. Therefore my death reference case should be tried
separately and whatever decision the High Court proposes to takes
that may be done in an expeditious manner. I have neither asked the
High Court to hang me soon, as has been reported in all the
newspapers, nor have I asked that death sentence be delayed and nor
have I begged for my life from the High Court.
 Your Honour, on
my request the High Court in its order on 7 August has taken a
decision that my case be heard alongside others and that the court
has appointed one S. S. Dinarpur as my lawyer to plead on my behalf.
I respect the sentiments of this court and that of the lawyer, whom
I do not even know.
Your Honour,
without my request, without my desire, without me asking for it,
without my approval, if the court has appointed the said lawyer,
with due respect, I decline to accept the services of the said
lawyer. Without any authorization through a Vakalatnama (lawyer’s
brief acceptance note), if any one, attempts to represent me, then
it would be nothing but a judicial farce; nothing else. Had I
wanted a lawyer for myself, I would have done it 14 years ago.
Your Honour, may
I mention for the kind information of this court that even in the
Sessions Court, I did not have a counsel. I did not contest my own
case and did not cross-examine any of the witnesses. During the
case proceedings, the Sessions Judge too had suggested that a lawyer
can be appointed by the court for me. Even then I had respectfully
declined to have a lawyer. I had told the judge that it was with my
own hands that I had tied a bomb around the body of my friend (Bhai
Dilawar Singh); with my own eyes I saw my dear friend, who was more
than a brother to me, who for the fulfillment of his mission,
vanished into thin air after the explosion. Then, how can I claim
that I am innocent, why should I have a counsel, my soul does not
allow me to do so, why should I have a counsel; my soul does not
allow me to do so. After hearing this, the Hon’ble Judge accepted my
assertion of not having a lawyer.
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Your Honour,
without my request, without my desire, without me asking for it,
without my approval, if the court has appointed the said lawyer,
with due respect, I decline to accept the services of the said
lawyer. Without any authorization through a Vakalatnama (lawyer’s
brief acceptance note), if any one, attempts to represent me, then
it would be nothing but a judicial farce; nothing else. Had I
wanted a lawyer for myself, I would have done it 14 years ago. |
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Your Honour,
even on a previous occasion, I have categorically stated to this
High Court that in a country where the religion of Sikhs is attacked
with tanks and heavy artillery, where the Supreme Court of the Sikhs
–Sri Akal Takht Sahib is reduced to rubble; that law which does not
apply to the killers of thousands of innocent Sikhs, that legal
system which while contesting it, thousands of my brethren attained
martyrdom, I refuse to file an appeal against the death sentence
awarded to me and I do not accept the domination of such a system.
Your Honour, the
legal and judicial system of this country has always followed double
standards. In June 1984, when the Congress government from Delhi
launched a massive tirade against the Sikhs and attacked Sri Akal
Takht Sahib with tanks and artillery, then these officers who were
responsible for the brutal killing of thousands of innocent
pilgrims, such officers were decorated with medals and promotions to
high offices by the rulers of this country, thereby rubbing salt on
the wounds of the Sikhs. Again, when in November 1984, after the
assassination of Indira Gandhi, when in the capital city of Delhi
and other prominent cities of the country, Indian patriots hounded
thousands of Sikhs on the streets of Delhi and then massacred them.
Daughters and sisters of Sikhs were raped, brutally assaulted and
killed. The elderly, children and women were killed mercilessly and
their home and hearth set afire. Sadly, no law, no military, no
commandos prevented the killers from going on their killing spree.
 The dead bodies
of the Sikhs were plucked and eaten by dogs and jackals. Their only
crime was they were Sikhs. Thousands of Sikhs were killed. Your
Honour, even after 25 years, no law of the country has arrested the
killers under any provision of law; no court has awarded any
punishment to the perpetrators. On the contrary, they have been
honoured with high offices and cabinet posts.
Your Honour,
when their other brethren (BJP) demolished the Babri Masjid, the
sentiments of millions of Muslims was deeply hurt, No law prevented
them from doing the heinous act. Again, after the ‘Godhra incident’
in Ahmedabad, thousands of Muslims were killed, merely on grounds
that were Muslims. Even then the whole judicial system was benumbed
into silence and allowed the perpetrators to continue their acts,
totally unchecked. Yet again, when the religious places of
Christians were destroyed in Orissa and their properties set on
fire, even then the system remained a mute spectator.
Judge Sahib, I
wish to ask of thee –these people who killed thousands of innocent
Sikhs, innocent Muslims and innocent Christians, are they not
terrorists? Why don’t the armed forces of the country and the law of
the land make efforts to stop them? On the other hand, if a
five-star hotel is attacked in Mumbai, then the army of the country
reaches the scene double-quick. Commandos rush from Delhi to Mumbai
and start action; merely in the matter of one night it is known to
them as to which village in Pakistan is the home village of the
killers. On the other hand, exactly opposite to this, despite the
passing of 25 years, it is still not known who the killers in Delhi
were. In such a scenario when they killers are too well known, how
can one trust the honesty of those are defenders of the law.
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Judge Sahib,
Beant Singh was the killer of thousands of innocent Sikhs, who was
punished by Bhai Dilawar Singh for his deeds. If fighting against
such tyrannical people and killing them is terrorism, then, yes, I
am a terrorist. I have absolutely no regrets about participating in
this murder conspiracy. For this deed, the death penalty awarded to
me would be accepted by me as a blessing from Lord Almighty awards
me death penalty. I accept this punishment; however, I refuse to
kowtow before such an impotent system which protects killers.
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Judge Sahib,
those rulers who attacked the Sikh religion, those who demolished
the Babri Masjid, those who killed thousands of innocent Sikhs, they
are designated as sons of Mother Bharat and defenders of Bharat
whereas when someone kills these mass murderers , he is dubbed as a
‘terrorist’. On the other hand, you have people who are protected
with security guards, bullet-proof vehicles and bullet-proof jackets
and on the other hand, those who become human bombs to fight the
injustice of such people, those who gladly embrace martyrdom –you
may kindly ponder over the question –who is a terrorist? Who is a
patriot? Please do ponder.
Judge Sahib,
Beant Singh too was a pawn of this killer system of the Congress
government at the Centre, which had consciously and deliberately
foisted him as the Chief Minister of Punjab and through whom the
genocide of Sikhs was attempted. During his tenure, thousands of
Sikh youth were dragged out of their homes, killed extrajudicially
and their bodies cremated as ‘unidentified bodies’. Those who were
mandated to protect the defend justice, became judges, courts,
police and killers –all rolled into one and in return for all this,
they were regularly rewarded bravery awards. All this was done by
the Congress party Chief Minister Beant Singh under directions and
instructions from Delhi.
Judge Sahib,
Beant Singh was the killer of thousands of innocent Sikhs, who was
punished by Bhai Dilawar Singh for his deeds. If fighting against
such tyrannical people and killing them is terrorism, then, yes, I
am a terrorist. I have absolutely no regrets about participating in
this murder conspiracy. For this deed, the death penalty awarded to
me would be accepted by me as a blessing from Lord Almighty awards
me death penalty. I accept this punishment; however, I refuse to
kowtow before such an impotent system which protects killers.
Your Honour, on
the one hand, ministerships and chief ministership in lieu of the
murder of innocent people and on the other hand, capital punishment
for killing a mass murderer. I accept this. I accept this. I accept
this. I refuse to accept the subjugation of such people.
Balwant Singh
Rajoana
Model Jail,
Chandigarh
Kothi No. 5
10 August 2009
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