Friday 16 March 2012

TIMES OF INDIA - "Beant killer wants Akal Takht to make ‘gift’ possible"

Article from Times of India 16 March 2012


JALANDHAR: Following the teachings of Saint Kabir in spirit, Balwant Singh Rajoana - who is likely to be hanged on March 31 for assassinating former Punjab chief minister late Beant Singh - has urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to ensure that his wish of donating his eyes and other organs is fulfilled. 

After the Takht go-ahead in 2008, Rajoana had readied his will, pledging his organs to needy persons and his eyes to a blind raagi (preacher) of Harmandar Sahib. According to his sister, he began his last testimony with the verse from Kabir. The document was written and signed in Burail Jail, Chandigarh, on June 17, 2008, in the presence of his sister Kamaldeep Kaur, brother-in-law Baljit Singh, seven-year-old nephew Ajaydeep Singh, deputy superintendent (jails) Navjotpal Singh Randhawa and the prison doctor. 

''It is up to the Jathedar now,'' said his sister, while speaking to TOI on Thursday. Rajoana said he pledged his eyes to the blind ragi Bhai ''so that my eyes keep on seeing the sanctum sanctorum''. He has also made it clear in his will that if his eyes can't be given the ragi for some reason, they should give sight to some other needy person see.