Chennai: BJP allies PMK and MDMK urged Modi-led government at the Centre not to oppose the state government’s decision to release seven life convicts of Rajiv assassination case in SC.
Expressing shock over the reports that the Centre would oppose release of seven convicts in SC on Tuesday, PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss claimed that all the seven convicted in the case were innocents and they had no role to play in the assassination of former Prime Minister.
The top court had commuted the death sentence of the three — Perarivalan, Murugan and Santhan — on February 18 this year as their mercy petitions were kept pending for more than 11 years. A day after the SC order, CM Jayalalithaa headed cabinet decided to release all the seven convicts after consulting the Centre. Opposing the state government’s move, the Centre moved the apex court against it.
PMK leader alleged that the death sentence was awarded to the convicts including Perarivalan based on the confessional statement made by them due to torture under the Tada Act. MDMK chief Vaiko said the mercy petitions were rejected by the UPA government after 11 years. He appealed to the Centre to allow the release of convicts by agreeing to the state government’s decision.
