My mother suffered several rejections and humiliations in last 31 years: Perarivalan

CHENNAI: "My mother suffered several rejections, humiliations and discouragement in the past 31 years when we were fighting a battle for my freedom," said

A G Perarivalan

, reacting to the Supreme Court order releasing him from jail.


Perarivalan alias Arivu had been in jail since 1991 in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

"Every time we suffered a legal reverse or defeat in court, I would be scared to face my mother," he told reporters in his native place

Jolarpet

on Wednesday.

Perarivalan recalled the death of Makkal Mandram member Sengodi, who committed self-immolation in August 2011 protesting death penalty for the Rajiv case convicts.

He said all along these 31 years, he was fortunate to have the wishes and support of police and jail personnel, besides the backing of people across the Tamil diaspora, political parties, media and such senior lawyers like Gopal Subramanium and Rakesh Dwivedi.

Perarivalan said he always stood against death penalty as a punishment in the criminal justice system.