Why Bhagwant Mann’s parole request for Beant Singh assassin has sparked a row

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has requested Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for a 10-day parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara, a Sikh prisoner convicted of assassinating former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, in order to visit his ailing mother. This marks the first time a sitting Chief Minister has sought parole for a life-sentenced convict in the assassination of a former Chief Minister.

The AAP government framed this as a purely humanitarian request, but it has been met with mixed reactions. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) and the BJP have supported Mann's move, arguing that it is a matter of personal liberty and humanitarian considerations. However, the SAD has criticized the AAP for playing politics over the matter.