London, Thursday (29^th March 2012) Lord Singh the Director of The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO), has raised concerns about the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana by tabling a question to Her Majesty’s Government. The question was tabled in the House of Lords, last week.

“Lord Singh of Wimbledon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to discuss with the
government of India their commitment to human rights following the sentence of capital punishment
in the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana; and if so, what matters they intend to raise.” [HL166~5]

For reasons of protocol, Lord Singh was not able to include that Balwant Singh had been in jail, whilst on death row for 16 years

Recent reports indicate that the Indian state has granted a stay of execution. The hanging, which was scheduled for this Saturday, would have been India’s first capital punishment for eight years.

The South Asian Director of Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly has also condemned the Indian death penalty, further to the news of  the planned execution by the Indian state.