New Delhi: The Congress attacked not just the state government but the centre also for, what it called, was an attempt to set the terrorists free. Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK government recommended release of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins.

“Unfortunately, the BJP is looking at terrorism too from a partisan perspective,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a media briefing on Monday. He claimed that the AIADMK was the BJP’s ally in Tamil Nadu and was acting in coordination with the BJP at the centre.

“Is it not true that BJP’s ally AIADMK and BJP-appointed governor are proceeding to recommend reprieve, remission and release of the assassins,” he said. The AIADMK isn’t part of the ruling coalition at the centre but has been seen to work closely with the BJP.

The state cabinet had, at a special meeting on Sunday, decided recommended the release of seven convicts who had spent 27 years in jail for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi’s son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi has made it clear on more than one occasion that he and his sister had forgiven their father’s killers.

“We are of clear opinion that the state cannot derelict its duty of punishing terrorists and terrorism. Those who swear by pseudo nationalism day in and day out, are today doing politics over the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi. It is time to show the mirror of truth to PM Modi and his government who are shielding terrorists by these acts,” the Congress spokesperson said.