Chennai, May 19: Almost all political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling DMK and main Opposition AIADMK, hailed the Supreme Court ordering the release of A.G. Perarivalan, one of the seven life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, but the Congress, an ally of the DMK, virtually expressed its unhappiness and has announced a protest demonstration in the State tomorrow to “express its sentiments”.
Chief Minister and DMK President M.K.Stalin termed the Apex Court as historic and a victory for federalism and autonomy of States. Former CMs and AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K.Palaniswami, in a joint statement said, the Cabinet resolution adopted by the AIADMK government in September 2018, formed the basis of the release of Perarivalan by the Supreme Court and urged the state government to take steps to release the remaining six convicts.
Recalling the continuous legal battle waged by late leader J.Jayalalithaa and the resolution adopted by her in the State Assembly in 2014 for the release of all the seven convicts, they said today’s Apex Court order was a massive victory for her unstinted efforts. It’s a big victory for the boldness of late leader J.Jayalalithaa, her long term vision and knowledge of law”, they said, adding, “the Apex court order gives us immense happiness and satisfaction”.
“It’s full and full victory for the AIADMK”, they said and urged the state government to release the remaining six convicts based on the court’s order on Perarivalan. After the AIADMK claimed credit saying the Supreme Court’s order releasing Perarivalan was a “victory wholly” for their party, sidelined former AIADMK interim General Secretary and Jayalalithaa’s close
aide V.K. Sasikala, in a tweet, said the release of Perarivalan marked the fruition of measures taken by Jayalalithaa.
Another expelled AIADMK leader and AMMK Founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is the nephew of Sasikala, said it was commendable that the judgment had reinforced the need for Constitutional functionaries, including Governors, to respect the decisions of duly-elected governments. The development was a victory for the long legal battle waged by Arputhammal, the mother of Perarivalan, he said.
Leaders of various political parties, including BJP State Chief K.Annamalai, PMK Founder Dr.S.Ramadoss, his son and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Anbumani, MDMK General Secretary and RS Member Vaiko, VCK Leader and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan, CPI and CPI(M) leader, DMDK Founder and actor-politician Vijayakanth, Makkal Needhi Maiyam of actor-politician Kamal Haasan, Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P.Nedumaran, Dravidar Kazhagam President K.Veeramani, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M H Jawahiruallah, naam Tamizhar Katchi of actor-director Seeman and
others hailed the Apex court order.
While urging the government to take steps for the release of the remaining six convicts, the political leaders also lauded the efforts taken by Perarivalan’s mother Arputhammal and the prolonged legal battle waged by her for her son’s release. However, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K.S. Alagiri reacted rather evasively, saying he did not want to criticise the Apex Court orders, but at the same time want to make it clear that all the accused are killers and not innocent.
In a statement here, he said the Supreme Court had released Perarivalan on legal grounds. But it was the same Supreme Court that had earlier found the seven guilty in the case and convicted them, he pointed out. Meanwhile, in another statement, he said the TNCC would stage a protest demonstration tomorrow from 10.00a.m to 11.00 am across the State by gagging their mouth with white clothes to express its sentiments on the Apex Court order.