CHENNAI: After a woman, Senkodi, self immolated on Sunday to protest against the death sentence for a trio in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, senior political leaders in the State appealed to the public not to follow her path.Expressing shock over the incident, MDMK leader Vaiko said he was moved by the sacrifice of the young girl fighting against death penalty for Perarivalan, Murugan and Santhan. Vaiko said this was undoubtedly equal to the sacrifice of K Muthukumar, who had committed suicide in Chennai in January 2009, protesting the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka. However, instead of ending their lives, the people should stay alive to fight against capital punishment, he added. On a similar note, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said, “We will definitely set fire to the noose of the gallows. So, the youngsters shouldn’t kill themselves. Instead, we will fight together till justice is rendered to the trio.”PMK founder S Ramadoss also urged the people not to commit suicide. “This practice shouldn’t be continued,” he said.Suba Veerapandian, the leader of the Dravida Iyakka Tamilar Peravai, said that though he respected the sacrifice of Senkodi, it was not a healthy practice.Meanwhile, three women advocates, whose fast entered the third consecutive day here, also appealed to the people not to resort to suicides. “We are confident that the lives of the trio will be saved. So, do not end lives. We have to show our solidarity against capital punishment through peaceful means,” they said.‘Adopt Rightful Path’Arputham Ammal, the mother of Perarivalan, one of the convicts on death row, said that she has been fighting for the last 21 years to save her son’s life. “Everyone should have the same courage to fight death penalty,” she said. “I have been fighting for the last 21 years because I know the value of life. Everybody should realize that and fight in a rightful method,” she urged.
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