Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has asserted that it still favours setting at liberty, all life convicts including A. G. Perarivalan in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and that there has been no deviation on the AIADMK government’s stand on the issue.
Both fisheries minister D. Jayakumar and AIADMK MP and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai said that state government would take steps to free A. G. Perarivalan and others. “One can understand the feelings of a mother’s agony (Arputhammal, mother of Perarivalan). Amma’s government is sensitive to this.
Realising this, Amma had ensured that a resolution was passed in the Assembly and even wrote letters to the Union home ministry seeking the immediate release of all seven persons,” Jayakumar said. Since the case is in the court, the late CM’s views, the Assembly resolution and government’s stand, will be clearly explained before the court and arguments advanced accordingly to ensure their release,” Mr Jayakumar added while speaking to reporters here on Saturday.
Thambidurai who was on a visit to the state told reporters at the airport here that state government would take steps to “protect” the lifers. Recalling the earlier assurance given by law minister C. Ve. Shanmugam, Thambidurai said that Mr. Shanmugam had clearly stated that government would approach the court for a favourable solution.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had, in 2014, passed a resolution to release the convicts — Murugan, A. G. Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini, after the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan.
