New Delhi, Oct. 8 -- The Centre has opposed the plea for commuting the death sentence to life of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh's assassin. On death row for 19 years, the convict Balwant SIngh Rajoana had approached the Supreme Court challenging the delay in deciding the plea for his remission pending with the President of India since 2012. Appearing before the top court on Wednesday, the Centre told a bench headed by justice VIkram Nath that it is "opposed" to the request made by Rajoana to convert his death sentence into life term based on judicial decisions in the past. Additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj appearing for Centre said, "We have objection to what they are demanding. Considering the prevailing situation in the state (Punjab), it will not be conducive to take any decision." The bench, also comprising justices Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh said, "Now that they insist on commuting their death sentence to life to which you oppose, we will hear the matter on merits." The apex court posted the matter on October 28 after ASG Nataraj sought time to prepare the case as Rajoana's lawyer Diksha Rai sought to rely on past Supreme Court decisions on this issue....