I have not politicised Rajiv convicts' release issue

DMK President M Karunanidhi today asserted he has not politicised the issue of release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case but insisted that his poser to the Chief Justice of India was to indicate that "judges should not politicise" such issues.

"Everyone knows that DMK had made a request for the release of the seven accused. I had asked if it was right on part of Chief Justice P Sathasivam to comment about it since Judges should not politicise such issues. Not for politicising it," he told reporters here.

He was responding to a query on the appeal made by Arputhammal, mother of A G Perarivalan, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi case, to political leaders not to politicise the issue relating to the verdict on their release.

Karunanidhi on Saturday said Chief Justice Sathasaivam's indication that the verdict on a petition relating the release of all seven life convicts would be given in a week has led to fears of a "political fallout" in Tamil Nadu ahead of April 24 Lok Sabha poll.

On Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seeking his response to charges of alleged irregularities made by expelled party leader M K Alagiri against DMK MP T R Baalu in Sethusamudram and the golden quadrilateral projects, Karunanidhi said, "Who accused whom is not important. Let them clearly explain what was the mistake made by Baalu."

Yesterday at an election rally, Jayalalithaa had said, "M K Alagiri has spoken that he was aware of the money siphoned off by Baalu in the golden quadrilateral project besides the wrongs committed in the Sethu project. Karunanidhi should respond to this."