Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101351940400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Jayalalithaa’s poser to Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Sunday objected the release of 1,405 life convicts to mark the birth centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and charged that it had emboldened murderers and terrorists.

Questioning the powers of the Chief Minister to release the prisoners who had been convicted by the court, Ms. Jayalalithaa said Mr. Karunanidhi should explain to the people the reasons for the mass release of prisoners.

She said that while it was of established practice to release prisoners of minor crimes on humanitarian grounds to mark the birth anniversaries of national leaders, releasing life convicts involved in major crimes had never been in practice. — Special Correspondent