AG Perarivalan release: ‘Terrorist is a terrorist,’ Cong targets BJP

Congress reflected dismay on Wednesday with the Supreme Court’s ruling to liberate A G Perarivalan. “A terrorist is a terrorist and should be responded to as such,” said Randeep Surjewala, head of the communication department.

The stance of the Gandhi Family

The party’s stance is worth mentioning because members of the Gandhi family have indeed claimed that they had pardoned Rajiv’s killers. Sonia Gandhi Vadra and her children Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as per the Congress and have no animosity toward Rajiv’s murders. The party stated that it values their feelings, but that judicial actions are not the same.

“The SC order further specified that the Governor cannot intrude in the authority of an elected state government,” said DMK leader and Chief Minister M K Stalin, who interacted with Perarivalan and his family. The opposing party AIADMK applauded the order, commemorating the late J Jayalalithaa’s efforts to free Perarivalan. Perarivalan was behind bars for over 30 years in prison in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Terrorist is a terrorist: Cong targets BJP over Perarivalan release

The Indian Express quoted Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala saying, “A terrorist is a terrorist and should be treated as one. Today, we are deeply pained and disappointed at the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the release of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassin.”

Accusations Of AG Perarivalan

On June 11, 1991, AG Perarivalan nicknamed Arivu, then 19 years old, was imprisoned. He was convicted of purchasing two 9-volt ‘Golden Power’ batteries for Sivarasan, the LTTE leader who planned Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. On May 21, that year, the cells were implicated in the explosive that assassinated the former Prime Minister. The Supreme Court utilised its special powers “for doing entire justice” under Article 142 of the Constitution to “release Perarivalan instantly” on Wednesday.

Justice K T Thomas wants to meet AG Perarivalan

Just after the verdict on Wednesday, Justice K T Thomas (retd), who presided over the Supreme Court panel that convicted A G Perarivalan to execution in 1999, expressed his desire to see the Rajiv Gandhi murder case convicted and sincerely wish him a peaceful life above.