Tamil Nadu campaign for release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination accused goes viral

by Thusiyan
Nov 20, 2020

Celebrities and politicians across Tamil Nadu have been tweeting in support of the release of AG Perarivalan, who has spent more than 30 years in prison over his alleged involvement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

Actors, directors and musicians from across Kollywood joined Tamil Nadu politicians in their call for Perarivalan to be freed, using the hashtag #ReleasePerarivalan.

The campaign, which generated thousands of tweets, comes after Perarivalan’s mother renewed her call for him to be released. “How long are we going to be alive?” she asked, describing her 30-year-long battle to have him freed. “We want our son during our final years.”

Recently, the Supreme court of India expressed unhappiness with the Tamil Nadu government over its unnecessarily lengthy process in Perarivalan’s case. The court also formally asked the Tamil Nadu Government to request the state Governor expedite his decision in Perarivalan’s case.

Amongst those who tweeted their support for Perarivalan was actor Vijay Sethupathi, who recently pulled out of a movie on Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan after controversy over the sportman's links to the Rajapaksa regime and comments belittling Tamil families of the disappeared. 

See more tweets below.

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