The Prime Minister today said the Tamil Nadu government has been asked not to proceed with its decision to free the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as it is not legally tenable.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, Dr Manmohan Singh said, the assassination was an attack on the soul of India and the release of the killers would be contrary to all principles of justice. He said no government or party should be soft in the fight against terrorism.

Yesterday, the Tamil Nadu government decided to set free within three days all the seven convicts after the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of three assassins. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said if there is no response from the Centre within three days, her government will invoke powers vested with it under Section 432 CrPC and release all the seven convicts.

Meanwhile, the SC agreed to hear later today, the Centre's plea, against the Tamil Nadu govt's decision to release convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.