MK silent about DPI's plea for clemency to Nalini

Madurai, Oct 6: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has maintained a 'studied silence' on Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) leader Thol Thirumavalavan's plea for clemency to Nalini, whose capital punishment, awarded in the in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Addressing an election meeting here last night, Mr Karunanidhi evaded any response to the appeal even while complimenting the Dalit leader with Tamil nationalist leanings for crossing over to the DMK-led DPA from the AIADMK combine. The DPI deserting the AIADMK was for honour and dignity, Mr Karunanidhi reasoned and said he would not let down 'brother' Thiruma.

Speaking earlier, Thirumavalavan, urged the DMK patriarch to take steps to remit the remaining part of Nalini's sentence. According to him the Tamils world over, not only Lankan expatriates, expected the Chief Minister to act in this regard. Further, in the DPI leader's opinion leniency for Nalini, a Tamil woman, was very much possible provided the DMK chief took the initiative.

Nalini, was awarded death penalty along with three others, including her husband, Murugan. All of them are lodged at the Vellore Central Prisons and the couple has a girl child. The sentence of Nalini was commuted following a letter to the President from Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

When the plea was made, TNCC President M Krishnaswamy, PMK leader S Ramadoss, N Varadarajan and D Pandian, state secretaries of the CPI(M) and CPI respectively were present on the dais along with other leaders of the DPA constituents.

Interestingly, none of those who addressed the gathering after Mr Thirumavalavan, neither supported the demand nor opposed it.

UNI