More Coverage
Twitter Coverage
JOIN SATYAAGRAH SOCIAL MEDIA
Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination convict AG Perarivalan receives hugs and a warm welcome from Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin upon his release, Congress ally had been fighting to get him out of jail
On May 18, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin met AG Perarivalan, one of the convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.
CM Stalin shared a video where he was seen hugging Perarivalan. Notably, his party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has been rooting for Perarivalan’s release for a long time.
|
In the tweet, he mentioned Perarivalan as a ‘brother’ and wished for his better future along with his mother, Arputhammal, who had been fighting for his release. Earlier, CM Stalin had shared a four-page long press release in Tamil where he patted his Government’s back and called the judgment of the Supreme Court worthy of ‘history, law, politics and administrative history’.
|
In the argument presented by the state in the Supreme Court, it was mentioned that the IPC 302 was subject to the public order of the state government, and Governor had to approve the decision made by the state government. The statement mentioned that the Supreme Court Judges noted that the Governor could not interfere in the State Government’s decisions.
AG Perarivalan is one of the convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination |
The release of Perarivalan
In 2014, the then-Tamil Nadu government led by AIADMK’s Jayalalithaa invoked the state’s powers under Section 432 of CrPC and sent a recommendation to the Centre to release all convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including Perarivalan. At that time, Stalin’s party supported the decision. After the release of Perarivalan, AIADMK is also trying to take credit for the release.
In 2018, after coming to power, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu cabinet passed a resolution to release seven convicts of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination under Article 161 and was sent to the Governor of Tamil Nadu for approval. However, the decision from the Governor’s office remained pending.
In 2020, Stalin approached the Governor and urged him to approve the pending request to release Perarivalan as ordered by the Supreme Court. The Governor said he would consider the request, said CM Stalin in the recent press release. However, the request was forwarded to the President of India, stating he was the right authority to make the decision to release the convicts.
The matter came before the Supreme Court, which granted bail to Perarivalan in March 2022, followed by a release in May 2022. The Centre had opposed bail granted to Perarivalan in March. It is noteworthy that Perarivalan has not been declared ‘not guilty by the Supreme Court. It was only judicial in nature. He was released by the Apex court over legal aspects and the fact the Governor did not take a decision over his release for long.
Congress party’s stand on Perarivalan’s release
On May 19, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TMCC) held a silent protest against the release of Perarivalan. However, the Congress party has made it clear that the different stand on his release would not affect the alliance between Congress and DMK.
The Gandhi family, interestingly, did not oppose the release of the convicts. Former Union Minister S. Thiruvanavakarasu had said in a statement that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi never said they (convicts) should not be released. “Both Rahul and Sonia will not have any regrets over the release of Perarivalan,” said Thiruvanavakarasu. The statement had come a day before the silent protest was organized.
Stalin mentioned Perarivalan as a ‘brother’ and wished for his better future |
BJP’s stand on the release
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opposed the release of the convicts since the beginning. Stating that the blast that took the life of a former Prime Minister also killed several innocents and injured others, the party has marked its protest against the release. BJP leader and state president K Annamalai said the Supreme Court had confirmed the death sentence of four convicts, including Perarivalan. “But as remissions followed and there were multiple rounds, the Supreme Court has given an extraordinary judgement which is given in a special case,” he added.
He said though BJP accepts the decision by the Apex court, it is firm on the state that all the seven convicts are grave offenders. “Seventeen people died along with Rajiv Gandhi on a fatal day. The deceased included eight police personnel,” he said.
Lashing out at TN CM Stalin, Annamalai said, “They are not tyagis (one who sacrifices oneself) to be glorified. There are thousands of people in Tamil Nadu who can be glorified. Hence, the DMK and party president and chief minister M K Stalin have set a very bad example by giving an extraordinary welcome to Perarivalan. “Let him [Perarivalan] live his life, but the chief minister should not set a wrong example,” he said.
He further blamed Congress for putting a double act and said, “But then they go to the DMK begging Rajya Sabha seats. The people of Tamil Nadu are watching them closely.”
Relatives of other victims were pained by the release
The other victims of the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination are not happy with the release. India Today quoted S Abbas, son of a victim identified as S Samdhani Begum, who recalled how difficult it was for him to survive. He was only 10-year-old when his mother, a South Mahila Congress leader, was killed in the blast in 1991. Abbas’s father had died in 1988. She was standing close to Rajiv Gandhi at the time of the incident.
He said, “Imagine the difficulties of a 10-year-old child with both parents gone. I lost everything in my life, and the 16 families of the victims have lost everything in their lives too. This year one of the convicts was released. How is it justice? He is a convict in the case, and we are the victims. What humanitarian grounds are you seeing? It has been 31 years. He was released, but will they be able to give back my mother?”
Disappointed with the visuals of CM hugging him, Abbas said, “The CM hugging Perarivalan is such a disappointment. We are the victim and not him. It is all for political gain that these parties support Perarivalan. These politicians should visit us and see our pain and how our lives have been shattered.”
Another victim’s brother, John Joseph, also expressed his anger. John’s brother Edward Joseph, a CID inspector, was on Gandhi’s security on a fateful day. 67-year-old John said, “My brother was just 39, his death left my entire family in the dark. My mother developed heart problems and died of cardiac arrest. My sister-in-law was widowed at a young age with a small child. I was the one who identified my brother post his killing. I have knocked every possible door for justice, but the release of Perarivalan is a grave injustice to us all.” Pained John added the court might have released him, but “he [Perarivalan] would pay the price in God’s court”.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack |
Rajiv Gandhi Assassination
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. On that fateful day, along with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, 13 others had lost their lives.
Perarivalan was arrested in the case at the age of 19. He was sentenced to death in May 1999. He was charged with purchasing the 8-volt battery used to detonate the belt bomb that killed former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. During the lengthy pendency of their mercy petitions, his sentence and that of two others, Murugan and Santhan (both Sri Lankans), were commuted to life in prison in 2014. Soon after, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu ordered the release of all seven of the case’s convicts.
When Rajiv Gandhi’s family, including Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, chose to ‘forgive’ the convicts and said they had no objection if the killers were released, the kin of those who had died along with Rajiv Gandhi was not too happy with the move.
References:
opindia.com
Support Us
Satyagraha was born from the heart of our land, with an undying aim to unveil the true essence of Bharat. It seeks to illuminate the hidden tales of our valiant freedom fighters and the rich chronicles that haven't yet sung their complete melody in the mainstream.
While platforms like NDTV and 'The Wire' effortlessly garner funds under the banner of safeguarding democracy, we at Satyagraha walk a different path. Our strength and resonance come from you. In this journey to weave a stronger Bharat, every little contribution amplifies our voice. Let's come together, contribute as you can, and champion the true spirit of our nation.
ICICI Bank of Satyaagrah | Razorpay Bank of Satyaagrah | PayPal Bank of Satyaagrah - For International Payments |
If all above doesn't work, then try the LINK below:
Please share the article on other platforms
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text. The website also frequently uses non-commercial images for representational purposes only in line with the article. We are not responsible for the authenticity of such images. If some images have a copyright issue, we request the person/entity to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will take the necessary actions to resolve the issue.
Related Articles
- BJP spokesperson receiving death threats on the micro-blogging platform after Alt News ‘fact checker’ Mohammed Zubair unleashes his troll army on Nupur Sharma
- “If Nagaland people who eat dog meat have so much self-respect”: I.N.D.I. Ally DMK Leader makes racist comments against Nagaland people, reflecting a startling lapse in political humility, Tamil Nadu Guv hits back, Annamalai demands him to be arrested
- "Will you dissolve all idols?" Tamil Nadu police ask Ganesha murti maker Murugan, as Vinayagar Chaturthi nears, DMK's crackdown on artisans, sparks outrage for crippling local economy and distressing Sanatana Dharma practitioners… Condemnable!
- Congress created magic on paper to make 17 crores poor by changing the estimated poverty line in a rural area and urban area: PM Modi tears into Congress’ ‘Garibi hatao’ facade, exposes the reality of 2013 report
- DMK govt relentlessly destroying traditions of Hindu temples and community, amends rule to transfer temple staff including pujaris: Earlier replaced pujaris of generational traditions with 2-year crash course certified pujaris
- Jan Ki Baat opinion poll survey shows clear victory for Yogi Adityanath as the CM of UP in 2022: BJP set to get a comfortable majority
- In a fiery speech in MP, PM Narendra Modi vehemently condemns the I.N.D.I Alliance's "hidden agenda" to undermine the age-old traditions of Sanatan Dharma, the bedrock of Bharat, amidst escalating remarks from DMK leaders stirring nationwide controversy
- Congress leadership is responsible for losing 90% elections in 10 years: Report by Prashant Kishor
- Retd Commander VK Jaitly admits that he was a witness to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi using INS Viraat to vacation on Lakshwadeep
- Was Indira Gandhi a Soviet Agent - 100 Years of Russian Revolution