Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, The Kerala government's reported move to grant remission to three of the 12 life convicts in the sensational 2012 TP Chandrasekharan murder case sparked a political storm in the state on Saturday, with the UDF led by the Congress and the BJP criticizing the Left administration took charge of it.
AICC general secretary and Alappuzha MP K C Venugopal said that not only the Congress but entire Kerala will "firmly oppose" this attempt by the government.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan said it was a "strange" decision by the government as considering the convicts for remission would be a violation of the High Court verdict that denied them the same.
He alleged that it clearly indicates that the government was trying to protect the criminals who killed Chandrasekharan by hacking him 51 times.
Satheesan alleged that the government has granted parole to convicts several times, provided them with five-star facilities in prison and allowed them to carry out shady financial dealings from inside the jail.
"The CPI(M) has become a party that protects criminals who do not hesitate to do anything. They remain arrogant and believe that they can do anything because they have power," he alleged and asked, "What authority do they have?" or Jail?" Does the Superintendent have to grant remission to convicted persons when the High Court has prohibited it?"
Despite suffering a major setback in the Lok Sabha polls, the ruling CPI(M) in the state continued to make "mistakes" and was unwilling to learn its lesson or correct itself, the opposition leader said.
He said the convicts will not be allowed any form of remission and the UDF would strongly oppose any attempt to grant it.
UDF MLA and Chandrasekharan's widow K K Rema expressed surprise over the development and said it was "unexpected" as there was a High Court order prohibiting any remission of the convicts.
Imposing life imprisonment on 12 convicts in the case, the High Court, in its February 27 order, said nine of them would not be eligible for remission before serving 20 years in prison.
Of the nine, T K Rajeesh, K K Muhammed Shafi and S Sijith are the three convicts who are reportedly being considered for remission.
Rema said the jail superintendent alone could not have taken this decision without the knowledge and support of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also in-charge of the Home Department.
"A lot of thought and planning has gone into this. It's a serious matter. They (the government) are proving time and time again that they stand with the convicts," she said.
The government's move would face opposition both legally and politically, she said, adding that she would also meet the Kerala governor to discuss the issue.
"We can't accept it no matter what."
Meanwhile, BJP state president K Surendran said the government's move was not surprising.
He claimed, in a Facebook post, that no Malayali would believe that prison laws were applicable to convicts in prison.
"They (convicts) were allowed a variety of home-cooked food, alcohol, drugs if necessary and all the latest versions of communication. Not just phone calls and WhatsApp, but Facebook and Instagram and more," he alleged.
Surendran alleged that neither the UDF nor Satheesan nor Rema would be surprised by the development and that they were just acting like that.
Chandrasekharan (52) was hacked to death by a gang while he was returning home on his bicycle.
The then United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala constituted a special investigation team to investigate the case.
AICC general secretary and Alappuzha MP K C Venugopal said that not only the Congress but entire Kerala will "firmly oppose" this attempt by the government.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan said it was a "strange" decision by the government as considering the convicts for remission would be a violation of the High Court verdict that denied them the same.
He alleged that it clearly indicates that the government was trying to protect the criminals who killed Chandrasekharan by hacking him 51 times.
Satheesan alleged that the government has granted parole to convicts several times, provided them with five-star facilities in prison and allowed them to carry out shady financial dealings from inside the jail.
"The CPI(M) has become a party that protects criminals who do not hesitate to do anything. They remain arrogant and believe that they can do anything because they have power," he alleged and asked, "What authority do they have?" or Jail?" Does the Superintendent have to grant remission to convicted persons when the High Court has prohibited it?"
Despite suffering a major setback in the Lok Sabha polls, the ruling CPI(M) in the state continued to make "mistakes" and was unwilling to learn its lesson or correct itself, the opposition leader said.
He said the convicts will not be allowed any form of remission and the UDF would strongly oppose any attempt to grant it.
UDF MLA and Chandrasekharan's widow K K Rema expressed surprise over the development and said it was "unexpected" as there was a High Court order prohibiting any remission of the convicts.
Imposing life imprisonment on 12 convicts in the case, the High Court, in its February 27 order, said nine of them would not be eligible for remission before serving 20 years in prison.
Of the nine, T K Rajeesh, K K Muhammed Shafi and S Sijith are the three convicts who are reportedly being considered for remission.
Rema said the jail superintendent alone could not have taken this decision without the knowledge and support of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also in-charge of the Home Department.
"A lot of thought and planning has gone into this. It's a serious matter. They (the government) are proving time and time again that they stand with the convicts," she said.
The government's move would face opposition both legally and politically, she said, adding that she would also meet the Kerala governor to discuss the issue.
"We can't accept it no matter what."
Meanwhile, BJP state president K Surendran said the government's move was not surprising.
He claimed, in a Facebook post, that no Malayali would believe that prison laws were applicable to convicts in prison.
"They (convicts) were allowed a variety of home-cooked food, alcohol, drugs if necessary and all the latest versions of communication. Not just phone calls and WhatsApp, but Facebook and Instagram and more," he alleged.
Surendran alleged that neither the UDF nor Satheesan nor Rema would be surprised by the development and that they were just acting like that.
Chandrasekharan (52) was hacked to death by a gang while he was returning home on his bicycle.
The then United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala constituted a special investigation team to investigate the case.
