Jaya Set to free Rajiv Killers; Rahul Upset

• If PM's killers are released, can common man expect justice? Rahul slams Jaya's decision
• Cong denounces Jayalalithaa’s decision, calling it "irresponsible, perverse and populist"

• TN Govt decides to set free within three days all the seven convicts
• I am personally against the death penalty, says Cong vice-president
• I am neither happy nor unhappy: Union Minister P Chidambaram
• Karuna, others laud Jayalalithaa for nod to release convicts
• I am extremely happy, I thank CM Amma: Perarivalan's mother
• DMK, AIADMK leaders spar over issue of Rajiv killers in LoK Sabha

Amethi/New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi said he was sad that seven people convicted of killing his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, were being released by the Tamil Nadu government within three days.

"My father became a martyr. I am personally against the death penalty but this is not about my father. If a Prime Minister's killers are being released, what kind of justice should the common man expect?" Gandhi said, hours after the Jayalalithaa government announced following an emergency cabinet meeting that all the convicts would be freed, a politically significant decision ahead of the national election, due by May.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said no letter has come from Tamil Nadu government on its move to release the convicts.

The convicts have been in jail for 23 years. One of them, Nalini Sriharan, was granted mercy in 2000 on the intervention of Sonia Gandhi.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday spared three of the convicts, Nalini's husband Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, from execution, citing the 11-year delay in a decision on their mercy plea, and left it to the Tamil Nadu government to release them.

The three other convicts in the case -- Robert Payas and Jayakumar, both Sri Lankan citizens, are in Puzhal Prison in Chennai, and Ravichandran is in Madurai Central Jail.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa acted fast, and gave the Centre three days to respond to her decision, after which, she said, she would invoke her own powers to free the convicts.

Shortly after Rahul Gandhi's comments, his Congress party officially denounced the Jayalalithaa government's decision, calling it "irresponsible, perverse and populist."

Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu, however, may find it difficult to share this view given the largely pro-Lankan Tamil sentiment in the state. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a woman operative of the Lankan Tamil separatist outfit LTTE, who greeted the Congress leader with a sandalwood garland and a bomb strapped to her chest during a rally in 1991.

The case has been inextricably linked to Tamil Nadu's electoral politics over the years and all Tamil parties have welcomed the decision to free the convicts.

"Our grief arises out of the fact that Rajiv Gandhi was killed brutally. It's the decision of the Supreme Court... I am neither happy nor unhappy. If they walk free, they walk free after 23 years in prison. If the court decides that 22 years of imprisonment is sufficient, then that's it," union minister P Chidambaram, who is from Tamil Nadu, told NDTV. "I do not see this as cynical politics."

DMK chief M Karunanidhi lauded his arch political rival CM J Jayalalithaa for her decision to release the seven convicts as the state cabinet move came in for praise from leaders cutting across party lines.

The DMK chief also hoped that the Centre would concur with the state government's decision, saying if that happened "we could be more happy."

MDMK chief Vaiko said Jayalalithaa had done a very laudable thing, adding it was a merciful humanitarian move. "I greet, congratulate and thank her," he said.

CPI leader D Raja said Tamil Nadu Government acted quickly and the decision was very much laudable. BJP state unit president Pon Radhakrishnan said, "Any move made in accordance with the due process of law" was welcome.

Pro-Tamil leader P Nedumaran expressed gratitude "on behalf of the world Tamils".

However, there was a voice of dissent as well. While Subramanian Swamy (BJP) said the Cabinet decision was illegal, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president B S Gnanadesikan slammed the move as an instance of competitive politics.

"Politics is happening over the Rajiv case in Tamil Nadu. After the opposition urged the release of three convicts, the government has come forward to release seven convicts," he said. PMK chief S Ramadoss welcomed the government decision. The mother of Perarivalan was extremely happy about the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release all convicts in the case. "Yesterday, I was happy to some extent, today I am very happy. Amma Jayalalithaa, is very considerate about the pain of another mother. She has put an end to my pain," Aruputhammal told PTI.

Leaders of arch rival parties from Tamil Nadu, AIADMK and DMK, got into an argument in the Lok Sabha over the issue of releasing seven convicts. Raising the issue, DMK leader T R Baalu said the Home Ministry should concur with the state government's decision to free the convicts.

Immediately, AIADMK leader M Thambidurai objected to Baalu raising the matter, saying the state government has already decided on releasing the convicts and there was no need to discuss it.

Law Minister Kapil Sibal said the government would abide by Supreme Court's decision commuting death penalty of three convicts and termed as politically motivated Tamil Nadu government's move to free all the killers. "It is clear that their agenda was political, their thoughts were political. They are not against terrorism. Had they been against terrorism, today they would have said no terrorists should be released," he said.

Asked for his reaction about the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release the convicts, he said, "People of India will have to decide who is for terrorists and who is against terrorists, who is for terrorism, who is against terrorism."

Without criticising Jayalalithaa, BJP said the compassion shown towards killers and the decision on their early release was a matter of concern.

"This talk of compassion and consideration for the killers of Rajiv Gandhi is a matter of concern for BJP because in this whole exercise, a very serious crime of the cruel assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is being ignored altogether," BJP's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said. He said the sensitivity of the crime was important and said BJP hopes government of India is alive to this consideration.