After severing ties with the BJP nearly ten days ago, AIADMK’s General Secretary, Edapadi K Palaniswami, has raised a special call for attention in the current State Assembly session. He’s urging for the premature release of 36 Muslim prisoners, who have been incarcerated for approximately 20 to 25 years, taking into account factors like advanced age and illness.
In response to a calling attention motion initiated by the main Opposition party, the AIADMK, and supported by other political factions, including allies of the DMK, Chief Minister M K Stalin affirmed that the DMK government had followed proper legal procedures regarding the issue. He highlighted that out of 566 life convicts in Tamil Nadu, 335 whose early release was recommended by an advisory board have already been freed as of October 8, 2023.
Stalin further explained that there have been attempts to create a false impression that the DMK did not take any action for the release of Muslim prisoners. He emphasized that, in fact, a total of 335 life convicts, including nine Muslims, have been released so far.
He also detailed the formation of a six-member committee, led by Justice N. Authinathan, which was established to evaluate the appeals of prisoners who have served over 20 years in jail, those who are elderly, disabled, and suffering from chronic illnesses or mental health conditions. This committee recommended the early release of 264 life prisoners.
💥முஸ்லிம் மக்கள் ஆசைப்பட்டது போல ADMK BJP கூட்டணி இல்லை🔥
நகரபுற உள்ளாட்சி தேர்தலில் பாஜக இல்லாத கூட்டணியைத் தானே உருவாக்கினீர்கள் எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி அவர்களே!!! அப்போது ஏன் இஸ்லாமிய பெருமக்கள் உங்களுக்கு வாக்களிக்கவில்லை…… pic.twitter.com/L4FFUFPZTw
— Sukumar Dharapuram (@SukumarBjp26) October 3, 2023
Based on the committee’s recommendations, 49 out of the 264 prisoners have been selected for premature release, a decision made in honour of the 115th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai this year. The file was submitted to the Tamil Nadu Governor on August 24, 2023. Of these 49, 20 are Muslims, and all of them will be released once the Governor grants consent. The government intends to take further action based on the panel’s recommendations.
Chief Minister Stalin critiqued the AIADMK for their “special concern” for Muslim prisoners, reminding them of the release of individuals convicted in the bus burning incident in Dharmapuri during the centenary celebrations of the AIADMK. He questioned why the AIADMK did not take similar steps for the release of Muslim prisoners back then.
It’s worth noting that after disassociating from the BJP-led NDA coalition, Palaniswamy addressed a gathering in Salem district, urging Muslims to support the AIADMK, stating that the party had acted in accordance with their wishes. In a video clip posted by Sukumar Dharapuram, a state secretary of the cooperative wing of the BJP, Palaniswamy emphasized the AIADMK’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of minorities.
In December 2021, Islamic organizations and political parties in Tamil Nadu appealed to the government to consider the release of convicts who have been in imprisonment for over two decades in connection with the Coimbatore serial bomb blast case and other communal offences. They have consistently urged the government to address this issue. Thirumavalavan of Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK) specifically called for the release of 37 Muslims who have been incarcerated in Tamil Nadu prisons for over 25 years.
On October 4, the Supreme Court declined to grant bail to the convicts involved in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case, citing the heinous nature of the crime. The court described the incident as “atrocious” and categorically ruled out the possibility of bail. The bomb blasts resulted in the loss of 58 lives and left over 200 others injured.
