Govt trying to change its image anti-corruption bills: Mayawati

The government today left open the possibility of giving effect to Rahul Gandhi's pet six anti-graft legislations through ordinances after the Opposition parties did not agree to extend the current Parliament session.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath responded by stating, "We will discuss the matter" when asked by reporters if the government would take the ordinance route on the bills.

He also indicated that the government would consider what views President Pranab Mukherjee may have in regard to promulgation of ordinances.

"We will discuss the matter.... What are the views of the President.... Because the country needs the anti- corruption legislations which are pending.... But despite all my efforts, the political parties did not agree to extend the session," Kamal Nath said.

Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati said, "though we support the bills, they should have come much earlier. Now the government, which itself is involved in corruption, is trying to change its image through the bills".

The extended Winter Session had started on February five.

Nath said that despite his attempts to persuade them, the political parties did not agree to extend to the session.

"They have not agreed despite the fact that these bills have been pending since 2011, 2012, 2013 and have gone through standing committees. It is not that these bills have come in the last two, three months. So, very unhappily, the government has no choice but to adjourn the House sine die," he said.

Post-release where will 4 Sri Lankans

“It is up to State government to take a decision’’

Where will the four Sri Lankans – Murugan, Santhan, Jayakumar and Robert Payas – life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, go in the event of their release?

This question is being discussed in legal circles in the wake of the State government’s announcement that the Cabinet had decided to release all the seven convicts in the case.

According to the director of the Prisoners Rights Forum, P. Pugalenthi, one possibility was that the Foreigners Act provided for the authorities to order the stay of the islanders at a particular place, such as a designated suburb, subject to certain conditions. For this, an order needed to be passed. The Sri Lankans could stay at the place, but should register themselves with the local police station. The authorities would impose conditions relating to their movements.

The other option was to put the four islanders in the Special Camp for refugees. It was now for the State government to take a decision in the matter, Mr.Pugalenthi said.

According to police sources, the four Sri Lankan nationals would have to be accommodated in special or ordinary refugee camps.

he practice has been that refugees with a criminal background are lodged in the special camps where free movement is restricted.

“While the State would not recommend their deportation, it is not possible to issue them a passport to facilitate migration to any other country. The only option is to house them in refugee camps. However, those having family or relatives in the State can stay with them,” a police official said.

Thanking the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for announcing the move to release the convicts, the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN national convener Henri Tiphagne said in case some of the convicts had no family or relatives in Tamil Nadu, human rights organisations like the People’s Watch would be willing to generously provide long-term shelters and surety for all those who required the same.

AIADMK Arputhammal meets Chief Minister JAYALALITHAA

For Arputhammal, who waged a long battle to save her son and one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case A.G. Perarivalan, from the gallows, it was a dream come true when she went to thank Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

It was a dream, she told presspersons at the Secretariat on Wednesday, adding Ms. Jayalalithaa took her hands and asked her not to cry.

She broke down uncontrollably when she met the Chief Minister. Unable to keep her emotions in check even during the interaction with media, Ms. Arputhammal, who used various forums to seek support for her son, including participating in the recent Chennai Book Fair, said: “Soon after going to [CM’s chamber] I started crying. I told her I have been yearning for my son.”

“She asked me not to cry and said all was well now. When I turned to leave Muthalvar (Chief Minister) amma called me back and took photographs. Truly, I did not expect… and express my thanks to her,” Ms. Arputhammal said.

On those who offered support, she said: “Everyone. I don’t want to mention names as missing anyone would be a mistake. Instead of describing them as Tamil supporters, I will call them human rights lovers across the world against capital punishment.”

“But, the assistance and decision that Muthalvar Amma took no one can and I want to put it on record,” she said. “She understood the pain of a mother and offered solace… I can’t forget her help,” Ms.Arputhammal said. “I would like to go to Delhi and thanks all the lawyers, including Ram Jethmalani,” she added.

On whether Ms. Jayalalithaa mentioned the date her son and six other convicts in the case would be released, she said the Chief Minister said “everyone, including your son, will be released.” But as the television channels are saying, Ms. Arputhammal said, they will be released in three days.

Courageous decision

R. Arivanantham adds from Krishnagiri:

“I am unable to find any words of praise for Ms. Jayalalithaa, for her government’s courageous decision today to release not only my son, but also six others ( convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination),” said an emotional T. Gnanasekaran, father of Perarivalan.

Amid bursting of crackers and distribution of sweets to the neighbours immediately after the announcement by the Chief Minister, Mr. Gnanasekaran, who stays with his daughter in Krishnagiri, said he was overcome by joy by the government’s decision that followed the Supreme Court commuting the death sentence to life. On Tuesday, after hearing of the court judgment, Mr. Gnanasekaran said he now yearned for his son’s release from prison.

SWAMY :TN resolution on Rajiv killers illegal

Seeks President’s rule if Jayalalithaa does not listen

Stating that any move to release former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s killers would be “illegal”, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said that President’s rule should be imposed in Tamil Nadu if Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa did not “desist” from proceeding with the decision.

“I demand that the Centre issue a direction under Article 256 of the Constitution to the TN CM to desist from pursuing (the) illegal resolution on Rajiv’s killers,” Mr Swamy said.

“If she (Jayalalithaa) does not listen, then the state should be brought under President’s rule immediately,” he added.

The Supreme Court has stayed the release of those convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case saying there have been procedural lapses on the part of the Tamil Nadu government in the matter.

After the apex court commuted the death sentences of three of the convicts in the said case, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet had decided to release them and other convicts following due consultations with the Centre.

RELEASE FOR Rajiv GANDHI killers illegal

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa made it clear that her government will go ahead with the decision of the State Cabinet to release all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, if the Centre failed to respond to its recommendation in three days.

“Whether the Centre responds to our recommendation or not, we will invoke the powers vested with the government and release them,” she said amid thumping of desk by the ruling party members and their allies in the Assembly.

She made these remarks when Puthiya Tamizhagam leader said DMK president M. Karunanidhi was also against death sentence.

“When the DMK was in power he had the opportunity to commute their death sentence. But Mr. Karunanidhi only recommended the case of Nalini, wife of Murugan,” she said.

Earlier in her statement, she said Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan preferred a petition in the High Court against the death sentence, because they came to a conclusion that neither the Centre nor the DMK government would taken any decision on their mercy petition. “When the case was heard in the Supreme Court, the Congress-led UPA government argued against commutation of death sentence.

Responding to DMDK member Alagapuram R., Mohanraj, who sought to argue that the Supreme Court had directed the State government and the Centre to release the three, Ms. Jayalalithaa clarified that the court had only suggested that the government could consider their release.

“After the Supreme Court delivered its judgement I held elaborate discussion and it was followed by the Cabinet meeting. Now the Cabinet has decided to release them,” she said.

CPI (M) whip K. Balakrishnan, CPI floor leader M. Arumugam, Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader R. Sarathkumar and others welcomed the government’s decision.

AIADMK Jayalalithaa DEALS ON RAJIV GANDHI CASE

Regardless of what the Centre decides on the release of Rajiv Gandhi case convicts, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister would have made her point. . If the Centre agrees to the release, she will be the one to reap the political benefits; if not, she will be the one that stood up and demanded it.

In 1991, the AIADMK won a massive mandate after the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, benefiting from the sympathy wave for the Congress with which it was in alliance.

Twenty three years later, and ahead of yet another general election, party leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa appears to have stolen a march on her political rivals in the State, this time by taking a step toward releasing seven persons convicted of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination .

From a hardcore critic of the LTTE, whose demand for the arrest of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran won her praise in the 1990s, to lobbying for the freedom of those convicted of killing Rajiv Gandhi, Ms. Jayalalithaa has adopted a position she apparently believes will fetch her enough political traction in Tamil Nadu.

With the Human Right Commission readying to take up the issue of alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka in the military operations against the LTTE next month in Geneva, the State is certain to witness another round of Tamil nationalist activism to lobby for a strong stand by New Delhi against the Rajapkasa government.

Tamil nationalist groups have been demanding the release of the death row convicts in the Rajiv case for years. In recent times, that clamour has grown stronger with the mood in the State against the Rajapaksa government.

When the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of Perarivalan, Murugan and Santhan in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to life imprisonment and gave the option to the “appropriate government” to exercise its remission powers, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was quick to seize the opportunity.

With her Cabinet adopting a resolution for the release of all seven prisoners, and the three-day deadline to the Centre for its consent, Ms. Jayalalithaa has decisively scored over the likes of DMK president M. Karunanidhi, who consider themselves bigger champions of the Tamil cause, and pre-empted the demands of Tamil nationalist groups.

Regardless of what the Centre decides, Ms. Jayalalithaa would have made her point. If the Centre agrees to the release, she will be the one to reap the political benefits; if not, she will be the one that stood up and demanded it.

The statement by Mr. Karunanidhi reflected her main rival's dilemma. He welcomed the decision, at the same time asserting that the credit for it could not go to the AIADMK alone.

“When I proposed idea of commuting their death sentence in 2011, she ridiculed it. Now,” said Mr. Karunanidhi, “she has taken a decision in favour of it. I welcome her stand.”

He even urged the Centre to give its concurrence to the Cabinet's decision.

Subramanian Swamy of the Bharatiya Janata Party, known for his views against the LTTE, said the move to release the convicts was “illegal”. He said the provisions of the law which Jayalalithaa government had invoked were applicable only when the commutation took place under very limited circumstances.

“The three-day ultimatum is empty as the Centre has made its mind clear. It is going for a review of the judgment. If the Centre objects to the release, Ms. Jayalalithaa might say she tried her best,” Dr. Swamy said.

For obvious reasons, the Congress, decried the release as an attempt to capitalise on Tamil nationalist sentiments. TNCC president B.S. Gnanadesikan said the decision to release the seven convicts was nothing but “competitive politics,” seeking to capitalise on Tamil sentiments.

Analysts said Ms. Jayalalithaa had taken a calculated risk, trading off possible disapproval from her traditional middle-class supporters, who believe in her anti-terrorism credentials, similar to the BJP’s, for what might be a bigger political gain.

“Even if the middle class turns against her, we should appreciate her move, because she has taken a risk,” said MSS Pandian, who teaches at Jawaharlal University.

Dindigul becomes Corporation

The Dindigul municipality has been upgraded as Municipal Corporation with effect from Wednesday.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa handed over the government order to Municipal Chairman G. Marudharaj. On receipt of the information, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam councillors celebrated the occasion by distributing sweets to the public and bursting crackers.

According to officials, the population of the newly created Corporation limits is 2.7 lakh.

The annual revenue to the exchequer is expected to be around Rs.30 crore.

The Chief Minister had announced at the Assembly on April 10, 2013, that the municipality would be upgraded as Municipal Corporation.

“Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor” BY NHAI

The Madras High Court on Thursday gave its nod to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to recommence the 19-km long “Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor” which was stalled by Public Works Department (PWD).

The project was mainly conceived for speedy evacuation of cargo from Chennai port. Work commenced in September 2010. The project was stalled in 2012.

By the January 28 letter, the PWD had sought revised Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for the elevated corridor and also said certain remedial measures such as dredging two metre beyond the outer column and construction of the retaining wall for three to four meters in the extended portion should be carried out.

Hence, NHAI filed a writ petition to quash the records of the Chief Engineer, PWD, Water Resource Organisation, Chennai Region, of January 28 this year and consequently direct the authorities to co-ordinate and take all steps to complete it within a planned time. A few other writ petitions were also filed in the Madras High Court seeking to direct the State government to allow the NHAI to proceed with construction.

The NHAI said it was aggrieved by the stumbling blocks put up by the Tamil Nadu Government for the due execution of India's first elevated project involving Rs.1,800 crore. It was the "motivated, tainted" action of the State Government which had led to the situation of stalling of the project work.

Setting aside the orders of the PWD, a division bench comprising Justices N. Paul Vasanthakumar and P. Devadass also directed the State government and all contesting respondents to extend full co-operation for continuance project which has been already commenced after obtaining clearance from Coastal Regulatory Zone Authority.

The Bench directed the PWD to co-ordinate and monitor free flow of water of Coovam River along with authorities. The State authorities should work in tandem with NHAI for the completion of the project.

AIADMK WELCOMES Panruti S. Ramachandran

Former minister and former deputy leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in the Assembly, Panruti S. Ramachandran, joined the AIADMK on Thursday.

A press release from the AIADMK said Mr. Ramachandran met Chief Minister Jayalalithaa along with his wife Shanthi and son R. Sampath Kumar and became the member of the party.

An engineer by training, Mr. Ramachandran worked for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, before taking a plunge into politics.

He was a minister in the DMK government, but switched to the AIADMK launched by M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). He was also part of the ministry headed by MGR and had addressed the United Nations on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

He later joined the PMK and became a first MLA of the party. He could not continue in the party for long and launched his own outfit, before joining the DMDK. In 2011 elections he was elected form the Alandur constituncy, but resigned his post after differences with party leader Vijayakant.