Dr. Veda Pratap Vaidik

Rajiv Gandhi’s assassin A G  Perarivalan was released from jail as per the order of the Supreme Court.  His release was widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu. State Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin was seen hugging the released convict in elation and congratulating his mother.  An article written by the killer was published by an English daily from Delhi, in which the convict expressed his gratitude to those who showed sympathy to him during his imprisonment. Apart from the ruling DMK, other major political parties in Tamil Nadu also applauded the Apex court’s direction to release the prisoner.

The Congress in Tamil Nadu had strongly opposed the release of Perarivalan who was convicted for assassinating Rajiv Gandhi, their revered leader.  What I wish to point out is that the state government and people of Tamil Nadu never felt sorry or sad about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister of the country. This is absolutely deplorable. There is nothing wrong if  our Tamil people are compassionate to the Tamils in Sri Lanka, but  that does not mean the killings and mayhem committed by the Lankan Tamil ultras can be ignored.

The Tamil Nadu government can rejoice over the fact that the Supreme Court in this case has denounced the Governor and supported the state government. The governor did not accept the proposal of the state government to release the Rajiv Gandhi killers, who have been in jail for 31 years.  The Governor had forwarded the proposal from the state government to the President of India.

The Supreme Court Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai invoked the extraordinary power conferred on the court under Article 142 of the Constitution and ordered immediate release of Perarivalan. In their order the learned judges pointed out that under Article 161 of the Constitution it was mandatory for the Governor to heed the advice of his cabinet. That is why the court had to settle the matter which was pending with the President for over two and half years in favour of the Tamil Nadu government.

From this verdict of the Apex Court it is amply clear that it is mandatory for the President and the Governors to follow the advice of their cabinet. But the decision of the Court should never be misconstrued and interpreted that the release of the Rajiv assassin is worth celebrating.

. Now the six other people who are in jail for the murder of Rajiv will also be released soon. In the light of this verdict the six other convicts in jail for the same crime may also be released soon, for the Tamil Nadu government had already taken the decision.

These convicts, who were jailed for almost 31 years were originally sentenced to death for their inhuman act, but were not hanged. Thank god, there capital punishment was commuted to life sentence and now they all will be released, thanks to the Supreme Court direction. The release of the assassins of our former Prime Minister is never any moment for celebration. It is highly deplorable if any group, party or society commemorate the release of the killers.  

*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.