Pardon to Rajiv killers: Tamil Nadu cabinet must step in, says MK

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DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Thursday appreciated chief minister Ms Jayalalithaa for passing a resolution to seek clemency for the three Rajiv case convicts following an upsurge in the feelings in the state against hanging them.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Karunanidhi insisted that it was important that the state cabinet takes a decision to grant pardon to them under article 161 of the Constitution.

On the arrest of DMK leaders in landgrab charges, he said atrocities of Emergency days were only continuing in the state.

“With the local body elections scheduled to be held next month, the AIADMK rulers have been arresting our leaders with a motive of defeating us in the local body elections,” the DMK president said.

When asked about the statement of Union law minister Salman Khurshid that the state Assembly resolution seeking clemency for three Tamils – Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan - would have no binding on anybody, Mr Karunanidhi refused to comment on it.

Earlier, participating in the marriage function, Mr Karunanidhi slammed the AIADMK government for reverting the Tamil New Year to April 14 instead of first day of Tamil month Thai.

He said the DMK government had taken the decision to celebrate the Tamil new year on first day of Tamil month Thai based the findings of Tamil scholars like Maraimalai Adigal.

“More than 500 Tamil scholars had gathered in a conference in 1921 and they came to a conclusion that Tamil new year should be celebrated on Thai 1,” he said adding that the AIADMK regime had taken a decision without understanding the history and tradition.