Patiala, Oct. 25 -- Death-row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, on Friday appealed to the Akal Takht to push the Union government for a swift decision on his pending mercy petition.

Speaking to the media while heading to the Government Dental College, Patiala, Rajoana appealed to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh Gargaj not to delay the matter any longer. "I have already spent nearly 30 years in prison, including 18 years on death row. My mercy petition has been pending for over 14 years. Even the Supreme Court has been urging the government for more than five years to decide the matter. I do not want any further delay - the case should be decided," he said. ...