Can’t commute death sentences of Rajiv killers: Jayalalithaa
August 29th, 2011 - 6:22 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Aug 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Monday that she did not have the power to commute the death sentences of the three convicted in former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination case.
Various parties have approached her to intervene in the matter. “I don’t have the power to commute the death sentence of the three,” Jayalalithaa told the state assembly. “They should appeal to the President again.”
Jayalalithaa charged former Chief Minister and DMK President M. Karunanidhi of double-speak on the issue.
On Aug 11, President Pratibha Patil rejected the mercy petitions of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - all linked to LTTE and sentenced to death for involvement in the 1991 assassination. The three are to be hanged Sep 9.
Various political parties and other organisations are campaigning for the death sentences to be overturned.
A woman suicide bomber blew herself up at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near Chennai May 21, 1991, killing Gandhi, who was prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989.
Recalling the assassination, Jayalalithaa said the case was heard by TADA court here and a total of 26 persons were sentenced to death.
On appeal, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences to Perarivalan, Santhan, Murugan and his wife Nalini. The sentences of three others were were commuted to life. The remaining 19 had already served their their time in jail in their commuted sentences and were set free.
On Aug 12, 2011 the Union Home Ministry said the Indian President had rejected the clemency petitions of the three sentenced to death.
Expressing condolences to the family of Senkodi, who set herself afire Sunday to press for a commutation of the death sentences, Jayalalithaa appealed to the people not to resort to such acts.
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- Rajiv Gandhi assassination: three to hang Sep 9 (Lead) - Aug 26, 2011
- President rejects mercy petition of Gandhi killers - Aug 11, 2011
- Rajiv Gandhi killers move court for stay of hanging - Aug 29, 2011
- President rejects mercy petition of Rajiv killers (Lead) - Aug 11, 2011
- Court pleas, threats, protests to save Rajiv's killers (Lead) - Aug 29, 2011
- Rajiv killers move high court; Karunanidhi backs plea (Night Lead) - Aug 30, 2011
- Rajiv Gandhi killer's mother demands fresh trial - Aug 13, 2011
- Release Rajiv Gandhi killers, appeals Karunanidhi - Oct 06, 2011
- Spare my son, don't hang him, pleads father - Aug 29, 2011
- Tamil Nadu Congress chief wants Rajiv killers hanged - Aug 27, 2011
- Rajiv killers' pleas adjourned till Jan 31 - Nov 29, 2011
- Rajiv assassination: Kin of other victims fast for speedy hanging - Sep 09, 2011
- 1,000 Youth Congress activists to fast against Tamil Nadu assembly resolution - Sep 05, 2011
- Rajiv killers' pleas adjourned till Nov 29 - Oct 28, 2011
Tags: chief minister, clemency petitions, commutation, death sentences, dmk, election rally, expressing condolences, former prime minister, indian president, j jayalalithaa, ltte, mercy petitions, president pratibha patil, prime minister of india, rajiv gandhi, rajiv killers, sriperumbudur, state assembly, union home ministry, woman suicide bomber