Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 told the Legislative Assembly that while there was an attempt to create the impression that the DMK had not done anything for the release of Muslim prisoners, a total of 335 life convicts including nine Muslim prisoners, had been released as of October 8, 2023.
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Replying to a calling attention motion moved by the main Opposition party, the AIADMK and other political parties including allies of the DMK, the Chief Minister said the DMK government had followed the legal course on the issue. He said he issued an order, on September 13, 2021, for the release of life prisoners on humanitarian grounds and goodwill on the occasion of the 113th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.
“Moreover, 15 life convicts and another 20 prisoners with medical conditions were released on the recommendation of the Advisory Board. Thus a total of 335 prisoners, out of 566 life convicts whose cases were considered, were released,” he said.
The CM also said that a six-member committee headed by Justice N. Authinathan had been constituted to consider the pleas of prisoners who had completed 20 years in jail, elderly prisoners, prisoners with disabilities, as well as prisoners suffering from chronic diseases and mental illnesses, and it had recommended the premature release of 264 life prisoners.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, 49 of the 264 prisoners have been selected for premature release on the occasion of the 115th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai this year, and a file was sent to the T.N. Governor on August 24, 2023 in this regard. “Of the 49, 20 prisoners are Muslims. All of them will be released after the Governor gives his consent,” he said and promised to take further action on the recommendations of the Justice Athinathan Committee.
Why special concern for Muslim prisoners, CM asks Palaniswami
Mr. Stalin also questioned the “special concern” expressed by former Chief Minister Edappai K. Palaniswami, wondering why the AIADMK, which was in power for 10 years, had turned a blind eye to the release of the Muslim prisoners then.
“On the eve of the centenary celebrations of AIADMK, your government released those who were convicted in the bus burning incident in Dharmapuri in which [three] girl students were charred to death. This is my question: why did you not lift a finger for the release of the Muslim prisoners [then]? I am not trying to sound arrogant, but asking you out of humility,” he said.
Mr Stalin also alleged that the AIADMK blindly supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens. “Everyone, particularly the minority community, knows why have you developed a sudden concern for the Muslim prisoners,” he quipped.
