My sins washed away, says key convict in Rajiv killing

Chennai: Nalini Sriharan, serving a life term for her role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, says her sins have been "washed away" after her meeting with the slain leader's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The March 19 meeting at the Vellore jail in Tamil Nadu where Nalini is imprisoned had "washed away her sins", her brother P.S. Bhagyanathan told news channel CNN-IBN.

"She was very happy meeting Priyanka. She felt her sins have been washed away," Bhagyanathan said.

"It was a surprise visit. I don't know what they talked about. The meeting was very personal and confidential," he added.

Priyanka on Tuesday confirmed that she met Nalini in prison.

Nalini, now 43, was sentenced to death by a special court for her involvement in Gandhi's assassination at Sriperumbudur near Chennai May 21, 1991.

The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after Sonia Gandhi petitioned for clemency for the sake of Nalini's daughter.

Asked on Tuesday about his sister's meeting with Nalini, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi told reporters at the parliament complex: "Both my sister and I do not believe in violence. Her meeting with Nalini was in this context."

Would he follow his sister's footsteps? Rahul Gandhi replied: "I have my own way of looking at things."