NEW DELHI, Nov 2: In a surprising development today, Baba Hardeo Singh, president of Sant Nirankari Mission here, pardoned the killer of his father ``in the name of communal harmony and brotherhood.''

Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh on April 24, 1980, had shot dead the then head of the Mission Baba Gurbachan Singh, father of Hardeo Singh.

In 1983, Ranjit Singh was arrested and subsequently convicted by Delhi Sessions court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was let out on bail last year but was asked to surrender when his appeal was recently rejected by the Delhi High Court.

About eight months of Ranjit Singh's sentence - in normal course he would have been released after 14 years of imprisonment - is still left to be served. Various political factions of Akali Dal and religious organisations have requested the President of India to exempt the remaining sentence.

Making the statement on behalf of Hardeo Singh, general secretary of the Mission, Govind Singh said, ``For a while now we have been receiving representations from various organisations to express our view in the event the sentence is pardoned. So for the first time in all these years, we have actually said what we feel about the issue.''

``Baba Hardeo Singh would have no objection if the President pardons Ranjit Singh's sentence. They say that he has changed and has become peace-loving. If that is true then we have no problems if he is set free, after all he has already spent 12 years in prison,'' Govind Singh said.

However, members of the Niarnakari community were not surprised by the statement. Says a senior Nirankari member, ``There has been a lot of pressure from all sections to endorse the pardon. Senior leaders like Harcharan Singh Tora and Prakash SIngh Badal are said to have met the prime minister twice this week about the issue.''

Many feel that the delay in the decision was because the opinion of Bharatiya Janata Party, partner in coalition with Akali Dal, was also being sought.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.