By Denying Release of Seven Tamil Convicts, Centre Is Trampling on Federal Rights With no real action being taken regarding the release of A.G. Perarivalan and six others in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the state government is undoing years of Jayalalithaaâs work towards championing Tamil Nadu's federal rights. A.G. Perarivalan. Photo: PTI Rights21/Feb/2021 Seven years have passed since former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa made an important announcement. On February 19, 2014, Jayalalithaa told the state assembly that she would release all the seven convicts imprisoned in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case if the Centre did not respond in three days. The announcement was a reflection of how persistent a state should be in protecting its federal rights. She was equally determined when it came to other issues, including the Cauvery dispute, NEET and the Mullaperiyar Dam.