Stalin letter to Prez to free Rajiv convicts upsets TNCC chief
Chennai:22.05.2021
The Congress never opposed release of the seven convicts in former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, but applying undue political pressure for an issue that should be decided through legal course is not appropriate, said TNCC president K S Alagiri on Friday. “CM Stalin writing a letter to the President for the release of the seven convicts is not acceptable to us,” Alagiri said.
“If a convict has to be released, it is for the court to decide. The stand of Congress is that it should not be done by applying undue political pressure. Undue political pressure could create a situation that may lead to law and order issues,” Alagiri told reporters here, after paying floral tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s portrait on his 30th death anniversary at the TNCC headquarters.
He was reacting to questions from the media over chief minister M K Stalin writing a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking immediate release of the seven convicts. They have been in prison for about 30 years. Stalin’s move just a day ahead of the 30th anniversary has received adverse reactions from Congress cadres on social media.
Alagiri said 26 people were convicted in the case,19 of them were later released. “We did not oppose it. We accepted the court verdict and no Congressman opposed it. Our approach remains the same,” he said. “There are more than 100 convicts who have served more than 25 years in prisons across TN. If Tamils have to be released for languishing in prison for so many years, then all of them have to be released. Why only these seven,” Alagiri asked, while terming it an emotional issue. TNN
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