Barring Congress and BJP, most political parties in Tamil Nadu welcome SC order releasing convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

This jibe against the role of Governors comes at a time the DMK government is engaged in a tussle with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over several issues.

In his statement, Stalin further recalled the efforts by the DMK, both political and legal, to ensure the release of all the seven convicts in the case. He also reminded everyone that the DMK fought for the seven of them even when the party was in Opposition.

Apart from terming it a victory for the legal struggles undertaken by the DMK, Chief Minister Stalin said that it was also a victory for those who believed in humanity and human rights.

பேரறிவாளனைத் தொடர்ந்து, நளினி உள்ளிட்ட 6 பேரையும் உச்சநீதிமன்றம் விடுதலை செய்துள்ளது நாம் நடத்திய வலிமையான சட்டப்போராட்டங்களுக்கும், மனிதநேயத்துக்கும் கிடைத்த வெற்றி!

அரசின் முடிவுகளை நியமனப் பதவியில் இருப்போர் கிடப்பில் போடக்கூடாது என்ற வகையில் மக்களாட்சிக் கோட்பாட்டின் வெற்றி! pic.twitter.com/lisDir178n

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 11, 2022

Verdict a victory for our efforts: AIADMK

Reacting to the Supreme Court order, senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar told reporters that the party considered the verdict as a victory for the steps taken by it to release the seven convicts who have languished in jail for three decades.

He also went on to accuse the DMK of trying to take credit for the release of the seven convicts, which, according to him, was possible only due to the efforts of the AIADMK.

“When Stalin’s father M Karunanidhi was the chief minister, the Cabinet recommended only Nalini’s death sentence be commuted. They ignored the other six. Today, they are trying to take credit saying that all of the convicts have been released because of them. It is only the AIADMK that has taken a consistent stand on this issue. The DMK is trying to fool the people,” he charged.

BJP slams Congress for ‘hypocrisy’

Commenting on the Supreme Court order, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai stated that though his party abides by the law of the land, it was important to remember that the released convicts are not acquitted of their crimes.

He also went on to slam the Congress for its alleged hypocrisy as the latter continued to be part of the DMK alliance despite the Dravidian party advocating the release of the life convicts, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hugging Perarivalan when he was released by the apex court in May this year.

Annamalai charged: “Congress party leaders have condemned the release of the six convicts from prison, even though their de-facto president and her children, in their letters and personal meetings in the past, have forgiven the convicts and were even fine with their release from prison. For the Congress party, electoral drama in Tamil Nadu takes precedence over the damage caused to our nation’s sovereignty.”

He also requested Stalin not to make Tamil Nadu a haven for convicts who have been released now, and who were also foreigners.

For @INCIndia, electoral drama in Tamil Nadu has taken precedence over the damage caused to the Sovereignty of our Nation.

Requesting @CMOTamilnadu not to make our state the haven for the foreign national convicts in this case. pic.twitter.com/ms9vTXDHHj

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 11, 2022

VCK seeks Governor’s resignation

While welcoming the verdict and terming it a “great victory for the tireless struggle by the entire Tamil community”, VCK chief and MP Thol Thirumavalavan emphasised that the order was a reaffirmation of the fact that the Governor is bound by the decisions taken by the Cabinet.

In view of the Governor failing to fulfil his constitutional duty, the VCK demanded his resignation.

With respect to the released convicts, Thirumavalavan urged the Union government to allow the Sri Lankan natives among them to go back to their country or any other foreign country of their choice.

“Even if they want to live in Tamil Nadu, government should provide whatever help they want,” he added.

Kamal Haasan too slams Governor’s inaction

Actor-politician Kamal Hassan also took on the Governor for sitting on the recommendation made by the Tamil Cabinet in 2018.

“If the Governor had accepted the recommendation passed by the Cabinet in 2018, the four-year delay in the release of the six persons would have been avoided,” he said in a tweet.

Kamal added: “The Supreme Court’s judgement is a lesson to Governors who interfere in the decisions taken by the state government. Appointees should stop doing it.”

தமிழக அமைச்சரவை 2018-ல் நிறைவேற்றிய தீர்மானத்தை ஆளுநர் ஏற்றுக்கொண்டிருந்தால் அறுவர் விடுதலையில் நான்காண்டு தாமதம் தவிர்க்கப்பட்டிருக்கும். (1/2)

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 11, 2022

PMK demands deadlines to be set for Governors

While expressing his happiness over the verdict, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss suggested that deadlines must be set for the Governors to decide upon any Cabinet recommendation as the reason for many problems was that there was no time limit for the Governors to take a decision on such matters.

“If the Governor had accepted the Cabinet decision in 2018, then they would have been released at that point itself. Now they have been released four years late,” he tweeted.

As for the CPI(M), Tamil Nadu state secretary K Balakrishnan in a series of tweets said that delaying of implementation of recommendations made by the state Cabinet amounted to violation of the state rights, and through the judgement, the apex court has taught a lesson to the Governor and the BJP-led Union government.

In the case of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Balakrishnan claimed that the Governor and the Union government deliberately kept the recommendation made by the state government under Article 161 in abeyance.

Seeman expresses gratitude

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman, a pro-Tamil leader, opined that the Supreme Court order brought joy to Tamils living around the world, and added that it not only allowed for the release of the life convicts in the case, but also upheld the rights of the state.

Pointing out that the struggle lasted for years, he also expressed his gratitude to the political leaders, lawyers and others who have been fighting for the release of the seven. He also thanked Arputhammal, the mother of Perarivalan, who led the campaign to free all of them for several years.

Seeman urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide facilities to the six convicts released on Friday to live according to their wishes.