Chennai, Nov 29 (UNI) At a time when the demand for
release of all the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi
assassination case has gained momentum, Congress
Lok Sabha member Karti Chidambaram today opposed
the alleged “hero worship” to them.
In a tweet in Tamil, tagging his interview to a private Tamil
TV channel, Karti sought to know why none were talking
about those who were killed along with the former Prime
Minister during an election rally at Sripeumbudur in May
1991.
Karti, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Sivaganga
constituency, referring to the convicts said don't make
them heroes and sought to know why none were talking
about those who were killed along with Mr Rajiv Gandhi.
In the interview, he referred to the pro-Tamil outfits
supporting the release of the convicts and said they
had not spoken about the other victims.
It may be noted that barring Congress, almost all
political parties, including ruling AIADMK and the
Opposition DMK, were demanding the release of all
the seven convicts, who had been in jail for nearly
three decades.
A few days PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss, citing the
CBI's submissions, urged Tamil Nadu Governor
Banwarilal Purohit to take an early decision on their
release based on the State Cabinet resolution which
had recommended their release under Article 161 of
the Constitution in September, 2018.
DMK President M K Stalin also met the Governor and
submitted a petition seeking their release on Tuesday
last.
In the plea, he said the DMK has been continuously
demanding the release of seven convicts--Nalini,
V.Sriharan alias Murugan, Santhan, A.G.Perarivalan,
Jayakumar, Robert Pyas and P.Ravichandran--who
had been were undergoing the long endless agony
of imprisonment for about 30 years.
Later, talking to reporters after meeting the Governor,
the DMK Chief said he was satsified with the reply
given by him.
Welcoming the CBI's stand that A G Perarivalan, one
of the seven life convicts in the case, has nothing
to do witbh the MDMA probe, Dr Ramadoss urged the
Governor to expedite the release of the convicts.
'Since CBI itself has informed that there is no link
between the MDMA probe and Perarivalan's release,
the Governor, without delaying citing frivolous reasons,
should take an expeditious decision on the release of
the seven convicts', he said.
In its 24-page affidavit filed before the Apex Court,
the CBI said it was entirely left to Mr Purohit to
decide on releasing Perarivalan.
“It is for the office of His Excellency Governor of
Tamil Nadu to take a call on the issue of whether
remission is to be granted...So far as relief in the
present matter is concerned, CBI has no role,” it
said.
The CBI said Perarivalan is “not the subject matter
of the further investigation carried out by the MDMA”.
Taking a divergent stand, TNCC President K S Alagiri
said political parties demanding the release of all the
seven convicts was unacceptable and that he has
no issue if they were released by the Court.
UNI GV 1734