TN to challenge Centre in SC on Rajiv Gandhi killers' issue

Political observers and critics criticised her govt decision to release seven convicts and termed decision as a 'political move'

Tamil Nadu government today said that it is planning to approach the Supreme Court against the Centre’s move to stall the release of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK Supermo J Jayalalithaa today said that the “State government would face it legally. We are aware of that. The Centre has already written to us. We will counter it in court,” she told reporters in Chennai today.

Responding to a question on political observers and critics allegation against her government decision to release the seven convicts as a “political move”, she said, “the matter is in court and it is sub-judice shouldn’t be discussing it in a press conference”.

On 19 February, Jayalalithaa said that the State cabinet in a meeting decided to release V Sriharan alias Murugan, A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Nalini, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran. All the seven were convicted for assassinating Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber in May, 1991, during an election campaign in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai.

She also set a three day deadline for the Centre to reply, failing which she said the State would use it power Under Section 432 to release all the seven convicts.

Following which, the Centre filed a petition on February 20 before the Supreme Court challenging the Tamil Nadu government’s decision and the court stayed the release of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan.

Earlier, the Chief Minister said the convicts already spent 23 years in the prison, besides to respect Tamil people emotion and various political parties views, and considering the convicts have already spent 23 years in the prison on the humanitarian ground.