[1]Some may call it a political U-turn, but it was a masterstroke by astute chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, whose image reached an all-time high among the Tamil diaspora on Tuesday by ‘dramatically’ seeking clemency for the three Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts, Perari-valan, Santhan and Murugan.
From criticising Nalini’s remission a decade back, Ms Jayalalithaa has travelled a long way to become the angel of the Tamil diaspora.
Almost all political parties and social organisations have welcomed her unprecedented gesture.
Public sympathy and sentiment was instrumental in bringing about the change of heart, sources said.
“It’s a positive step. It is a politically shrewd move. It will definitely create goodwill for her. She must follow this up by mobilising support for abolishing death penalty,” said political commentator Gnani.
Jayalalithaa, always critical of remission of punishment, outmanoeuvered bete noire Karun-anidhi for the second time as only recently she had moved another resolution pressing for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka.
Union law minister Salman Khurshid has dismissed the resolution, saying it would not
have any binding on anybody.
But legal experts argue that the unanimous resolution of the Assembly would have its own weight when the President considers the fresh mercy pleas of the three convicts.
Describing it as a big step, senior advocate R. Vaigai said the resolution carries weightage since it reflects the feeling of the people of Tamil Nadu. However, she said the chief minister should have granted pardon herself under article 161 of the Constitution.
Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Viduthalai Rajendran said commutation of sentence was a welcome step, but he wanted the government to release the three since they had spent 20 years in prison.
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