Procedures ignored in releasing convicts: MK

 A day after praising Chief Minister J Jayalalitha for taking bold decision to free the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi made a U-turn on Thursday and said the Tamil Nadu government has mishandled the issue of releasing the accused without following the rules.

“It (state government) has not followed the due process. It was a hasty decision,” he said.
Quoting a couplet of ancient saint Thiruvalluvar, he pointed out “Decisions taken without thought will only lead to further problems”. Karunanidhi said the state government has acted in a similar way.

He said a month ago, the state government has opposed the parole application filed by Nalini, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Karunanidhi also reiterated the view that capital punishment must be abolished in India also as has been done in 142 other countries.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said it will examine the procedural lapse in the Tamil Nadu government's decision to grant remission and release within three days the seven convicts in the case.

 On Wednesday, Jayalalitha announced that the government would release the seven convicts, giving three days for the Centre to respond to the proposal.