The Newshour Debate: Terror gets state support

Centre on Thursday (January 8) ruled out premature release of convicts in serious crimes like killing of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh but expressed willingness to examine other cases selectively as Punjab government made a formal demand for freeing all prisoners of the state. Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and demanded release of all the prisoners of the state "who have served their jail terms" and dismissed criticism over the move as a "wrong impression". Badal, who was accompanied by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, appealed to Singh to "direct the various state governments holding Sikh detainees who have completed their required sentence and are eligible for release under the 'premature release policy' to free them forthwith". The chief of Akali Dal, which is a key ally of BJP, told Singh that there were 182 life convicts in jails in Punjab who had undergone the minimum sentence and could be considered for premature release subject to the parameters prescribed in the policy. There are reportedly 13 others in other five states.

Senior Home Ministry officials later indicated that legal opinion could be taken in select cases like old people and those having completed 20 years in prison but not those convicted in serious charges. "There is no question of softening of stand in terror cases. No commitment has been given to Badal on releasing any prisoner. There is no question of releasing people like those who were convicted for killing Beant Singh," an official said. "However, selected cases may be legally examined.. Ways may be explored to examine legally the possibility of releasing those who have completed at least 20 years in prison," the official said. The MHA official said the government cannot release someone convicted for a crime like assassination of Beant Singh at a time when Thailand arrested a fugitive Sikh terrorist following India's persistent request. Gurmeet Singh alias Jagt