-> T.S. VENKATESAN
The recent apex court three bench verdict in releasing one of the seven former PM Rajiv Gandhi killer convict Perarivalan will have a far-reaching cascading legal and political ramifications and likely unwelcome developments in Tamil Nadu as well bharat. Glorification of a terrorist as a hero, CM hugging a terrorist and posing with him, fueling the state autonomy demand, role and say of governor in bills, boost fundamentalist forces to step up clamour for pre -mature release of Coimbatore serial bomb Muslim terrorists are some to mention.
Invoking its extraordinary under article 142 of the Constitution of India, the SC court on 18th has ordered the release of A G Perarivalan in former PM Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. His parents Gnanasekaran alias Kuyildasan and Arputham Amma were followers of Evera Ramaswamy Naicker. His father alleged to have visited Sri Lanka several times and had a close links with LTTE that was responsible for assassination.
Dravidian parties and allies in TN trying to capitalize his release to promote their political interests. It is well know that TN CM Stalin does not hug just anyone, shake hands and give audience to commoners. But he not only gave audience amidst tight engagements hugged him, wrapped him a shawl and posed with him for a photo shoot. It is nowhere seen a constitutional head, Stalin has openly hugged a convict, who was released on some technical grounds. He sent a wrong message. By doing so, Stalin has not just set a bad precedent but has brought disrepute to the Constitutional office he is holding. Retired police officer, Anusuya Daisy Ernest who was in-charge of security the fateful night, lashed out CM Stalin who had hugged and adorned convicted terrorist Perarivalan with a shawl on his release.
BJP Chief Annamalai said “ Stalin who had taken oath under the Constitution would be able to rule the state as he had gone to Airport “ to receive Perarivalan and none of the statements of DMK had used the term ‘ convicts’ to refer to them seven persons. He said “they are not someone who have to be celebrated, glorified like the DMK, Dravidian Kazham, its allies, PMK, MDMK and Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) are doing”. DMK wants to take credit for his release forgetting it was AIADMK’s actions that fructified. The verdict would help them to flaunt their Tamil Nationalist agenda. DMK views his release as a clean chit as the justice MC Jain Commission report implicated DMK and its leader M Karunanidhi for abetting Rajivi Gandhi killers and LTTE at large. DMK government was dismissed by the Centre in 1991 on allegations that it was helping the LTTE. Stalin said “This is a victory for whole india. State autonomy and united federalism, the judges have made it clear that governor can’t interfere in the policies of the state government… it is a judgment on human rights and humanitarian grounds and has established state’s rights in a majestic manner by the apex court”. It is a signal that governor should support the NEET, NEP and bills on curtailing powers on appointment of VCs and other policies. Perarivalan, as rightly pointed out by Annamalai, was released not for his innocent. It has not acquitted him but for the systemic delay. “DMK misused the parole rules for Perarivalan and he had not been in jail even for a day since DMK came to power” he pointed out. DMK made a poll promise that it would take proactive measures for the release of seven convicts in the case. Now he is discussing with legal experts for the early release remaining of six convicts.
It is an undeniable fact Rajiv Gandhi was killed in TN soil in a gruesome manner. Along with him 17 police and innocent public were killed. Except Perarivalan, others are Sri Lankan Tamils. While lacks of other Tamilians are in languishing jails for years together, why DMK and others show so much interests only to this seven?
Former CBI director D R Karthikeyan, whose team probed the case said “this was not a just another murder. It was a crime against the nation. The plot to kill Rajiv was conspired in Jaffina. We probed the case in depth and with an open mind”.
In an interview to a YouTube channel, Anusuya Daisy claims, “My hands were gone in the blast that killed the former Prime Minister. He (CM Stalin) never shared our grief or consoled us. I don’t know if he will be considerate towards us if we try to speak on phone. We the victims don’t know if we can ever meet the CM. It has been 31 years. Till today, no Chief Minister has called us. Sonia and her family never met us or talked to us. For us, meeting the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister is far-fetched.”
Making a scathing attack TN CM Anusuya said, “There is a huge threat perception for the post of Chief Minister. So many protocols. Thousand and eight enquiries are made. But Arputhammal (convicted terrorist Perarivalan’s mother) can easily to speak to the Chief Minister over phone and the video of it goes viral.”, she said. “And the Chief Minister is hugging him affectionately as if someone of his own son was released from prison. Had someone from the Chief Minister’s had been killed by the LTTE, say his wife or his father Karunanidhi, I don’t know if he will hug the culprit the same way. That is what shocks me. Had Karunanidhi been assassinated by the LTTE when he was Chief Minister, would Stalin have recommended their release and hug them? This is a shameful act!”. S Abbas, who lost his mother in the blast, said “we have not got any compensation so far. We are struggling hard. John Joseph, a retired government employee who lost his elder brother (Edward Joseph, Security Branch CID) in the blast said, the verdict might embolden others to commit crimes. Family of TKS Mohamed Iquab, SP who was killed on his birthday said nothing can heal the pain my mother had endured over the last 31 years. All said they were pained to bursting of crackers and distributing sweets on his release. Did he fight for the country and go to jail. He is not a freedom fighter nor a martyr.
TN Congress party lies in a pathetic state with white cloth tied to its mouth, unable to even stand up for its late leader and question the DMK for glorifying Perarivalan’s release due to political compulsions.
“How could Perarivalan’s mother without any income and running a poor family pursue cases court after court, engaging highly expensive lawyers like Ram Jethmalani and others, easy access to Chief Minister, political leaders is intriguing. Another convict Nalini could be able to send her daughter to London where she is now pursing MBBS course. It is clear the proscribed LTTE and supporters are helping financially and other means to them who achieved killing Indian Prime Minister for their cause” Anushya. As expected, the Muslims have started campaigning for the pre mature release of Coimbatore serial bomb blasts convicts. SC has set a wrong precedence in the name of leniency.
The most appalling and dangerous reactions have come from the Dravidian Stockiest media like The News Minute, Times of India, Vikatan, you tube channel Red Pix and others who have been leaving no stone unturned to portray the convicted terrorist as a ‘ Revolutionary freedom fighter’.
“Like a state cabinet, a duly elected union cabinet can take decision as it involves the assassination of a PM. If sentences are given on the basis of the people’s support or whims and fancies of rulers, why should we have courts at the cost of public money? Judiciary, Executive and legislatures are interdependent arms The SC failed to understand the political angle in that when lakhs of Tamil prisons are languishing in various jails. Would it show the same leniency? Lakhs and lakhs of cases are pending in various courts. Will it take responsibility and accountability for the delay the same logic it applied to Governor? We need a national judicial commission after bidding good bye collegium system of appointing judges for higher judiciary” said a lawyer.