New Delhi : A day after Congress vice-president slammed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to release all seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the Supreme Court stayed the release of the convicts on Thursday.

The apex court was hearing a review petition filed swiftly by the Central government in the morning.

Attorney General had said in the petition on Thursday that the state government’s move was “against the principals of jurisprudence”. The court said it would consider the plea.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defended his government’s decision to approach the apex court.

“The Government is moving a review petition in the Supreme Court on fundamental issues of law arising from the assassination of the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi,” said a press statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We have also informed the Tamil Nadu Government that their proposed course of action to release the killers of Shri Rajiv Gandhi is not legally tenable and should not be proceeded with.

“The assassination of Shri Rajiv Gandhi was an attack on the soul of India. The release of the killers of a former Prime Minister of India and our great leader, as well as several other innocent Indians, would be contrary to all principles of justice. No government or party should be soft in our fight against terrorism,” said the release.

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal on the other hand attacked the BJP and Narendra Modi for not speaking on the issue.

“Unfortunate that political parties have double standards. It is a sad day. Some political parties have kept quiet. There are fake encounters and people don’t say anything, and in cases terrorists are let off. I question Modi: why are you being quiet?”

Meanwhile, the daughter of a convict has apologised to Rahul Gandhi but urged him to help release her parent.