Refuting reports that the Centre has once again rejected Tamil Nadu government's proposal to free the killers of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Union Home Ministry claimed that the final decision is yet to be taken. "The process of consultation with the Law Ministry on Tamil Nadu government request is still on. The final decision is yet to be taken," the MHA said.
The government clarification comes after some media reports claimed the Central government has rejected Tamil Nadu government's proposal to give relief to Rajiv's killers. This is the second time in two years that the state government had demanded the release of the seven killers of the former prime minister.
The report said that the Home Ministry declined Tamil Nadu's request saying the matter is sub-judice and that the Centre has no authority to release the prisoners.
In a letter to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in March, Tamil Nadu chief secretary K Gnanadesikan had said the state government received petitions from the seven convicts requesting it to release them as they had spent more than 20 years in prison.
The convicts are V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, AG Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini.
Out of the seven convicts, V Sriharan, T Suthendraraja, Jayakumar and Robert Payas are Sri Lankans. Gnanadesikan had then recalled how the Centre had gone to Supreme Court after Tamil Nadu decided on February 19, 2014 to grant remission to them and also referred to the matter pending in court now.
All the seven were convicted by a special TADA court for their role in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991 during an election rally at Sriperumbudur.
It is a major political issue for the Dravidian and national parties ahead of the state elections. Tamil Nadu will vote on May 16 and results will be declared three days later.
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