New Delhi, Sep 10: The Congress on Monday condemned Tamil Nadu government's push to release the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Opposing their release, the Congress questioned Tamil Nadu's decision and said how can a state government release an EX-PM's killers. The Congress further added saying that the assassination was an international terror conspiracy.

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday recommended to the Governor to release of seven convicts in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. All the seven convicts - Nalini, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran are serving life terms and had been in jail for the last 27 years.

The decision to free the convicts comes after the state cabinet meeting on Sunday. Ruling AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar said "public sentiment" is in favour of releasing the convicts. While briefing media, Jayakumar said the recommendation will be sent to the Tamil Nadu governor Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Jayakumar added saying that the recommendation has been made under Article 161 of the Constitution and the Governor has no other choice but to accept the recommendation.

The former PM was assassinated by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in May 1991. In the last month, the Central government had told the Supreme Court that it does not concur with the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Apex Court had earlier asked Governor Purohit to decide on the mercy petition of one of the convicts, AG Perarivalan. In the last week, the Supreme Court had asked the Tamil Nadu government to seek redressal and direction from the State Governor for its demand to release the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 05:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).