Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict AG Perarivalan, released after 31 years in jail, told reporters ‘I firmly believe there is no need for capital punishment’ as he was welcomed by jubilant family members, friends and pro-Tamil outfits in Chennai. Perarivalan had initially been sentenced to death but that was later commuted to life in prison.
Perarivalan told reporters he first wants to ‘breathe’. “I have just come out. It has been 31 years of legal battle. I have to breathe a bit. Give me some time,” he said.
On capital punishment he said: “I firmly believe there is no need for capital punishment. Not just for mercy… many justices including Supreme Court chief justices have said so and there are many examples. Everybody is human.’