Chennai: Political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday
welcomed the Madras High Court order staying the execution of
the three convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and
adoption of a resolution by the state assembly appealing to
the President to reconsider their mercy pleas.
Welcoming the high court order and the resolution, CPI put
on hold its proposed fast on September 3 to press its demand
for commutation of the death sentence of Murugan, Santhan and
Perarivalan.
Admitting a petition by the three, the high court stayed
for eight weeks their execution fixed for September 9.
CPI state Secretary D Pandian in a statement thanked Chief
Minister Jayalalithaa and members of the assembly for passing
the resolution requesting President Pratibha Patil to
reconsider the clemency petitions of the three convicts, which
she (the President) had recently rejected.
Principal opposition in the assembly DMDK welcomed the
adoption of the "unanimous resolution".
Taking a dig at DMK chief M Karunanidhi`s remarks
yesterday that had Rajiv Gandhi been alive, "he would have
saved the lives of the three persons," Deputy leader of DMDK
Legislature Party Panruti S Ramachandran said in the assembly
"if Gandhi was alive, the case itself would not have arisen."
MDMK leader Vaiko, who has been in the forefront of the
campaign for commuting the death sentence of the three, said
the entire Tamil community was "rejoicing" over the high court
order and thanked Jayalalithaa for her initiative in the
assembly.
"The innocent have been saved and justice established,"
he said in a statement.
PMK also welcomed the state government`s move for passing
the special resolution in the assembly.
"However, this is only the first step. The Chief Minister
has to call for a cabinet meeting and pass the resolution and
then meet the Governor and hand it over," PMK founder S
Ramadoss said in a statement.
"All MPs in both the houses of the Parliament should also
raise their voice in support of this resolution," he said.
Puthiya Thamizhagam President K Krishnasamy while thanking
Jayalalithaa in the assembly, compared her to Mother Teresa,
saying she had saved the lives of the three Tamils.
Film director and founder leader of a pro-Eelam outfit
Seeman told reporters that the court order was a victory for
democracy and justice and thanked Jayalalithaa for moving the
resolution.
PTI
