The Supreme Court ordered the release of A G Perarivalan who was convicted for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
Coimbatore: Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam and Dravidian organizations lit fireworks in Coimbatore to celebrate the Supreme Court's verdict to release A G Perarivalan who had been convicted for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The judgement was hailed with great jubilation by his family and several pro-Tamil outfits.
Seven people, including Perarivalan were arrested in 1991 in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Perarivalan who had been imprisoned for 31 years, continued to petition for his release. Since the investigation was on for a long time, various organizations in Tamil Nadu staged protests demanding the release of all seven convicts. The Supreme Court ordered the release of A G Perarivalan on Wednesday.
Various organizations, including the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam celebrated outside the Court right after the verdict was announced by the Supreme Court.
They lit fireworks and distributed sweets.
The Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam in Coimbatore joined the celebrations by lighting fireworks near the Gandhipuram Periyar Study Hall.
Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam General Secretary, K Ramakrishnan led the celebrations.
During the celebrations, many members of the Dravidian organizations shouted slogans jubilantly saying, "The Court broke the Governor's ban, the Court broke the ban of the Central Government."
K Ramakrishnan, who met reporters said, "The Governor and the Central Government were obstructing the DMK Government's decision to release Perarivalan. However, Perarivalan has now been released. This release order is not only for him, but also for the rights of the State. The release will also bring out prisoners who have been in prison for many years."