Chennai: The scheduled execution of three of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins in September in Tamil Nadu has turned into a politically-loaded issue, with the state's government and Opposition blaming each other for not doing enough to save them.
The 20-year-old daughter of one of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins has appealed to Sonia Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to help save her father, Murugan. His hanging has been scheduled at the Vellore Jail on September 9.
In 1999, the Supreme Court gave Murugun the death sentence along with two other men. Murugun and Santhan are both Sri Lankan Tamils; Perarivalan is Indian. All three men appealed that their death sentence be commuted. Earlier this month, President Pratibha Patil rejected their petitions.
Murugun is married to Nalini, whose death sentence was commuted at Sonia Gandhi's request in 2000, when Nalini delivered a baby daughter, Harithra, in jail. Mrs Gandhi's husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur.
21-years-later, Harithra is seen now in a clip on YouTube. "I lived without father and mother for many years. I miss them. I saw them last when I was a child," she says. "The letters they send me are the only happiness I have," she says. She reportedly lives in London.
Jayalalithaa pointed out that once the country's President rejects mercy petitions, the Chief Minister cannot intervene. "I don't have any power to alter the Presidential order rejecting the mercy petitions of the three," she said this morning in the Assembly, asking other parties to refrain from suggesting otherwise. (Read: Can't intervene to save Rajiv Gandhi convicts, says Jayalalithaa)
But Jayalalithaa's long-time rival DMK chief Karunanidhi, said, "Had young leader Rajiv Gandhi been alive today, that noble man would have definitely come forward to save the lives of Santhan, Perarivalan and Murugan, responding to the voice of true Tamils." (Read: Tamils will be happy if Rajiv assassins are spared, says Karunanidhi)
Perarivalan, who has an engineering diploma, was arrested for helping procure batteries for the bomb and assembling it. Santhan and Murugan indoctrinated Nalini.
On Sunday, a 19-year-old pro-Tamil activist died after set herself on fire in Kancheepuram to protest against the scheduled execution of the three men. The state Congress has so far backed the execution.
The 20-year-old daughter of one of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins has appealed to Sonia Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to help save her father, Murugan. His hanging has been scheduled at the Vellore Jail on September 9.
In 1999, the Supreme Court gave Murugun the death sentence along with two other men. Murugun and Santhan are both Sri Lankan Tamils; Perarivalan is Indian. All three men appealed that their death sentence be commuted. Earlier this month, President Pratibha Patil rejected their petitions.
Murugun is married to Nalini, whose death sentence was commuted at Sonia Gandhi's request in 2000, when Nalini delivered a baby daughter, Harithra, in jail. Mrs Gandhi's husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur.
21-years-later, Harithra is seen now in a clip on YouTube. "I lived without father and mother for many years. I miss them. I saw them last when I was a child," she says. "The letters they send me are the only happiness I have," she says. She reportedly lives in London.
Jayalalithaa pointed out that once the country's President rejects mercy petitions, the Chief Minister cannot intervene. "I don't have any power to alter the Presidential order rejecting the mercy petitions of the three," she said this morning in the Assembly, asking other parties to refrain from suggesting otherwise. (Read: Can't intervene to save Rajiv Gandhi convicts, says Jayalalithaa)
But Jayalalithaa's long-time rival DMK chief Karunanidhi, said, "Had young leader Rajiv Gandhi been alive today, that noble man would have definitely come forward to save the lives of Santhan, Perarivalan and Murugan, responding to the voice of true Tamils." (Read: Tamils will be happy if Rajiv assassins are spared, says Karunanidhi)
Perarivalan, who has an engineering diploma, was arrested for helping procure batteries for the bomb and assembling it. Santhan and Murugan indoctrinated Nalini.
On Sunday, a 19-year-old pro-Tamil activist died after set herself on fire in Kancheepuram to protest against the scheduled execution of the three men. The state Congress has so far backed the execution.
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