JOIN USTamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha on Thursday found herself isolated in her decision to release convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case with almost all parties, including the BJP, attacking her and cautioning her against politicising the issue.
Sharp reactions came against the decision from the BJP, the JD-U, the RJD and the Shiv Sena besides the Congress, whose government at the Centre moved the Supreme Court against the Tamil Nadu government decision.
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the latest case of relief to the assassins of the former prime minister was a case of “misconceived compassion”. He said it is difficult to comprehend that there can be institutional compassion for such persons after assassinating a former prime minister.
“Those who commit such heinous crimes cannot be made symbol of identity politics. Nothing more can hurt national security. Terrorism is an offence against the country. It must attract a deterrent punishment,” he said.
Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena termed the decision a matter of concern. “We should not show this kind of slackness in dealing with such cases,” he said while RJD leader Ramkirpal Yadav said, “Even the killers of a common man should not be released. Here it involves a person who was the prime minister of the country. It is a matter of concern and not in the interest of the nation.”
BJP leader Subrahmanian Swami also echoed these views, saying the decision was “illegal” and the President’s rule should be imposed in Tamil Nadu.