TN BJP chief urges Stalin not to release terrorists because of their religion

Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai urged the state government not to release people who have been convicted for terrorist activities, referring to the government’s decision to release 49 prisoners, including 20 Muslims.

Annamalai, addressing reporters after a core committee meeting at the party's headquarters in Chennai, expressed strong reservations about the release of convicts involved in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast, as part of the state government's decision to commemorate the 115th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C N Annadurai.

The BJP leader argued that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion or community, emphasizing that the release of individuals involved in the Coimbatore bomb blast would be a dangerous move.

He accused the DMK-led government of engaging in appeasement politics, asserting that releasing the convicts is against the interests of Muslims themselves. Annamalai's comments have further fuelled tensions in the already contentious political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Taking his concerns to social media, Annamalai, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), urged Chief Minister M K Stalin to reconsider the release of what he referred to as "radical Islamic fundamentalists." The BJP leader cited the recent Supreme Court decision rejecting bail for some of the convicts, labelling the case as "atrocious."

In response, Chief Minister Stalin defended the decision, revealing that a committee headed by retired Justice N Athinathan had recommended the premature release of 264 life convicts, including those serving time for the Coimbatore bomb blast.

Stalin explained that the release was based on considerations such as completion of 10-20 years in jail, old age, disabilities, chronic diseases, and mental illness.

The political turmoil escalated as Annamalai criticized the DMK leader, questioning why the AIADMK, during their decade-long tenure, did not object to the release of Muslim prisoners.

The BJP leader stressed that the Coimbatore bomb blast remains a painful memory for many, and the recent arrest of 13 individuals in connection with a suicide bombing incident in October 2022 only heightened concerns about the resurgence of terror activities in the region.