Union minister of state for prime minister’s office V Narayanasamy has asked the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to release three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Addressing a press conference in Puducherry on Sunday, Narayanasamy termed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision as ‘arbitrary.’ The Union minister said he was shocked at the decision which, according to him, was totally unacceptable. He regretted that the decision would set a bad precedent. He was of the opinion that the convicts should be incarcerated till their death.

He said the state government had no constitutional authority to take such a decision as the case was probed by the CBI. Moreover, the culprits were punished under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (Tada).

He pointed out that the AIADMK, which was against the LTTE after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, sought a ban on it besides demanding the Union government to declare it as a terrorist organization. The AIADMK had gone to the extent of demanding extradition of LTTE chief Prabhakaran to India for trial and punishment for his terrorist activities, he said. The Tamil Nadu government had not even granted parole to Nalini, another convict in the case, he added.

However, now the AIADMK government planned to release the convicts to gain political mileage ahead of Lok Sabha polls, he said.

The senior Congress leader said he personally did not agree with the Supreme Court’s order to commute capital punishment awarded to the convicts to life term. He said the Union government had filed a review petition before the Supreme Court and expressed optimism that the court would pass a favourable order.

Meanwhile, AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary and MLA A Anbalagan sought the dismissal of Narayanasamy for criticizing the orders passed by the country’s top court. He said the judiciary should initiate contempt of court proceedings against Narayanasamy.

He said the party would submit memoranda to the President and Supreme Court Chief Justice seeking Narayanasamy’s dismissal and contempt of court proceedings against him. - TOI