TN netas hail stay on Rajiv killers' execution

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, Communist Party of India 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 Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam welcomed the adoption of the "unanimous resolution".

Taking a dig at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi's remarks on Monday 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."

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 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. Paattali Makkal Katchi 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 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.