Ever since the release of the six convicts in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on “technical grounds” by the Supreme Court using article 142 of the constitution which gives supreme power to the Supreme Court to pass any judgement to uphold justice, parties like DMK, VCK and fringe groups like Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) were glorifying the assassins and calling them as innocents. This propaganda was led by mainstream Tamil media and certain sections of news websites, which were trying to project Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins as heroes.
In a similar effort to glorify the convicts, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Chief and Lok Sabha MP Thirumavalvan met with the convict of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination Ravichandran and referred to the 7 convicts as “innocents” despite being convicted of the crime from lower courts to the Supreme Court. VCK MP can be seen hugging the Rajiv Gandhi assassin Ravichandran, who greets Thirumavalavan with a shawl.
Thirumavalavan in an interview with Times Now said,”Even though he (Ravichandran) was in prison, the actual culprits escaped from the case. This is my conviction. The Supreme Court itself released him and five other convicts using article 142, without any political influence. They were not released using article 161 of the constitution (using the state government’s power) on the basis of political grounds. They were released by the Supreme Court, so meeting with them is not illegal.”
He continued, “It was he (Ravichandran) who traveled to Chennai to thank the politicians, advocates, and friends who had helped secure his release. As part of it, he met with me and thanked me and my cadres for our role in his release. So this is not against the morality of the politics.”
When asked about the review petition filed by the Central government and Congress against the release of six convicts, he said,”It is a routine procedure and expected one, an unfortunate one. I believe that the move of Congress and Central government will not affect the release of the six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.”
He further said that meeting Ravichandran will not send the wrong message in political space and that he does not believe that Ravichandran is a convict, who according to him is an innocent victimized by law and bureaucrats.
He further said,”As I am not meeting with the real culprits of Rajiv Gandhi assassination, hence it will not affect our relationship with the Congress party. I strongly believe that the people like Nalini, Ravichandran, and Perarivalan who belong to Tamil Nadu have no role to play in Rajiv’s assassination.”
TIMES NOW's @sreeprapanch confronts VCK's Thirumavalavan, who met Ravichandran (one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case)
"The meeting (with the convict) will not deliver a wrong message. I believe that he is innocent", says VCK Chief Thirumavalavan pic.twitter.com/dxrFkrMPYr
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 21, 2022
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