Release of convicts mishandled, says Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi Thursday said the Tamil Nadu government has mishandled the issue of releasing the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The former chief minister was responding to media queries on the Supreme Court suspending the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release the convicts.

Citing a couplet that says even properly drafted plans would remain incomplete in the hands of the incompetent, Karunanidhi said the state government acted in a similar way in deciding to release the seven convicts.

He said that a month back the state government had opposed the parole application filed by Nalini, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said it will examine the procedural lapse in the Tamil Nadu government's decision to grant remission and release within three days the seven convicts in the case.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced that the government would release the seven convicts, giving three days for the centre to respond to the proposal.