EVKS Elangovan flays TN CM's move on Rajiv convicts' release

Chennai: Breaking his silence on the letter written by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa seeking the release of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, TNCC president E.V,K.S. Elangovan on Friday, came down heavily on the move, but refrained from openly stating that the Congress is opposed to the release..

“As far as the Congress is concerned, punishing the assassins of Rajiv should be left to the judiciary. The Congress is ready to accept whatever decision the court takes on the matter”, he said in an obvious opposition to the intervention of the Centre.  

Meanwhile, MDMK founder Vaiko  hit out at both AIADMK and DMK on the issue of release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, charging Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with trying to get ‘political mileage’ on the matter.

In a statement here, Mr Vaiko also charged DMK president M. Karunanidhi with trying to hoodwink people on the issue.

MDMK leader said Jayalalithaa “has written a letter to Centre through the Chief Secretary,” while the state government can release all seven of them including Nalini using Article 161 of the Constitution. “People are aware that this is an attempt to gain political mileage and hoodwink (them),” he said. .

Slamming DMK, which had backed the state government’s decision to release the seven, Vaiko claimed that the Karunanidhi-led party never made attempts to set them free while in power.