Who said what about Perarivalan’s release
Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who met Perarivalan and his family, on Wednesday, welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict ordering the release of A G Perarivalan, who has served over 30 years in jail in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and said “The SC order also clarified that the Governor cannot interfere in the powers of an elected state government.” The opposition AIADMK also welcomed the order, recalling steps taken by the late J Jayalalithaa for Perarivalan’s release.
The Congress, however, expressed it’s disappointment over the Supreme Court’s verdict saying the BJP had created the circumstances for the order. “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,” said Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala.
A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, 50, was only 19 when he was arrested on June 11, 1991. He was accused of having bought two 9-volt ‘Golden Power’ battery cells for Sivarasan, the LTTE man who masterminded the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi.
The batteries were used in the bomb that killed the former Prime Minister on May 21 that year. Perarivalan was “set at liberty forthwith” on Wednesday by the Supreme Court, which used its extraordinary powers “for doing complete justice” under Article 142 of the Constitution. Perarivalan’s release marks the culmination of the legal battle he waged from his cells in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore and Puzhal Central prisons over three decades.