Nalini Sriharan is on hunger strike seeking an early release from jail.
But she’s no ordinary prisoner.
Nalini is currently serving a life sentence for her role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Part of Nalini’s plea is that she does not expect to live long due to her deteriorating health after spending nearly two decades in prison.
Nalini, her husband and two others were sentenced to death for conspiring to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
But her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment at the pleading of Sonia Gandhi, head of the ruling Congress and widow of Rajiv, so that Nalini’s young daughter would not be orphaned.
Priyanka Gandhi met Nalini in jail last year and later said the meeting helped her come to terms with her father’s loss.
The Gandhi family appears to have made peace with Nalini.
Should the country also respond in kind?
Can her case be treated as punishment intended for reform rather than retribution?
On Sunday, media reports said Nalini had earned a post-graduate degree in computer applications, topping the course among jail inmates who appeared for the examination in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government has said it will decide on Nalini’s case after consulting the union government.
Should Nalini be released?
Or is her hunger strike an example of “blackmail” — which is how a TV news channel put it.
(PHOTO: Nalini [R] seen in a court in the southern Indian city of Chengalpattu in this June 15,1991 file photo)
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Nalini must be released.
- Posted by AjayShe has been punished for 18 years now. It is more than enough.
Valmiki was a dacoit and went on to write the Ramayana.
Nalini has also completed MCA - she can do wonders if given a chance.
To err is human to forgive divine.
Never ! Her and her collegues, ill-actions have changed the course of Indian history. Rajiv as PM was charting a progressive path for India back in 80’s, things today may be different (better or worse we can discuss later) if these group of people had not decieded to kill him to make a point. a Point which we still can’t understand.
- Posted by IceManShe was rightly given death penalty. Its only by grace of the president that she lives. Every day of her life is a gift by Indians, whom she has wronged. She doesnt not deserve this. So she should remain in prison for her actions.
To my view,is every one in india who done activies against India was punished.if so then she should not be released.family dynasty are making drama,as if they were good.we have to look out motive behind this assassination.if one doing crime,what induce to do this that we have to look out.error done by former pri ( raji)that let to the cause of his fate.he is nomore then his family have to be acquited for his crime.what has done two decades before was deserved in the court of truth..
- Posted by TamilanIts strange how the perpetrators of terror and violence resort to democratic means when it comes to their self interests. One must not forget that Nalini assassinated India’s former prime minister. Had this happened in any other country even the debate on Nalini would not have started. Releasing Nalini would set a precedent for other terrorists like Kasab and weaken India’s stand on terrorism. Let her spent her life behind the bars for the horrendous act she committed.
- Posted by Rahul MishraI strongly feel she should be released. The reason being there must be some pressure or unfamiliar circumstances under which she must have committed such a deadly crime but after spending 18 years in prison, its quite a long time served, afterall she is a mother of a young lady, she has complete right to demand freedom after such a long prison stay. Sometimes people do commit severe mistakes but forgiveness is the virtue of the wise. Forgive her, let her free.
- Posted by satyavrat-satya
Nalini committed horrible act, still she should be released. Her people — Lankan Tamils — have been through harrowing time. If it is possible for us to understand what made her do what she did. If may be possible to forgive her.
- Posted by KapilNalini was sentensed to life term which the supreme court of India clarified as sentence to be served till death. Nalini was proved by Police in a court of law to have played a key role in Killing Rajiv Gandhi. She had no mercy on Rajiv. Why should India show mercy to her? Infact she should have been hanged. The commutation of her death sentense is not actually constitutionally valid, you will know about it, if you carefully study how the death sentence was commuted.
- Posted by S V RAOplease release her, now…
- Posted by leonrainesHi everyone, should Nalini be released umm my view on this after considering certain facts and consequence of the case…. i strongly recommend her release Reasons,
Nalini was one of the prime accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, but the real killers Sivarasan, Suba and Dhanu who were already dead. What is the real motive for Nalini to be prime accused. Why she was not part of assassination (evident is that she is alive). What made her escape from the scence in the last minute while rest of her company are rest in peace. ( their would be some reasons behind which everyone should thing of it)
Now it is been almost 18 to 19 years in jail, i think it is more than enough for an individual in a country like india.
Please note she tops MCA exam, she is more of asset when compare to few criminals in India.
punishment is way for an individual to be aware that the mistake should not be repeated. but punishment should be life at any cost.
I think it is not threat for India to release Nalini, when compared to Kasab.
- Posted by GururajYes, she deserves to be released. If she had been from Tamilnadu or India she would have been released because of vote bank politics.
- Posted by SureshI am not in favour of the death penalty, however I do believe Nalini needs to be punished. Her daughter is now
a young lady, if Nalini has already served 18 years in prison. So that argument is no longer relevant.
Nalini should continue serving her sentence.
- Posted by Debra HindleyGoing on hunger strike itself makes it evident that given an opportunity, she can still try to meet her hidden unaccomplished goals may be harder than what she was punished for. While humanitarian feeling has its own importance, lenient view can be a costlier affair for the Nation.
- Posted by YogeshI am not in favour of the death penalty for any criminal. As for releasing the killer of an Indian Prime Minister, the big question is — has Nalini ‘reformed’ after 18 long years in jail? On the other hand, the plight of her young daughter also has to be taken into consideration. Not an easy decision to make.
- Posted by Tony Tharakan