'Punish Rajiv case convicts to protect country's sovereignty'

Punishing the seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case would help in protecting the sovereignty of the country, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry E M Sudarsana Natchiappan said here today.
"We can protect the sovereignty of country by punishing those who assisted and (were) directly involved in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi," Natchiappan told reporters, on the sidelines of a function.
"We should not create a situation by pardoning them, where anyone would think that they can do anything against our country," he said replying to a query.
There have been rising voices of Opposition from the Centre and senior leaders of the Congress against Tamil Nadu government's decision to release the seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Supreme Court has granted an interim stay on the Tamil Nadu government's decision and adjourned the case to March 6.