No unilateral decision on releasing Nalini, says Karunanidhi

Chennai, Feb 3(ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday clarified that his government will not take any unilateral decision over release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassin, Nalini.

Interacting with the media here, Karunanidhi said that the matter would be discussed with the Union Government before arriving at any decision.

"This is a major issue that has to be discussed at the national level. Therefore, we cannot unilaterally take a decision on it," Karunanidhi said.

He added that the state government has appointed a committee to consider advisory board's recommendations and its report "is on its way."

Earlier, the advisory board of the Vellore Jail where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) activist Nalini Sriharan has spent 19 years, recommended that she be freed for showing good behavior.

Nalini was originally given the death sentence for her role in Rajiv Gandhi's death in 1991.

After Nalini gave birth to a daughter in prison, this was commuted to a life sentence at the request of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who said she didn't want to orphan a child.(ANI)