JOIN USState Congress chief K V Thankkabalu told reporters here on Saturday that his party “wholeheartedly welcomed” the execution of the impending death penalty on Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - as the killing of Rajiv Gandhi was “the most heinous crime, deserving no leniency”.
While the DMK is yet to spell out its position on the issue, pro-Tamil parties including the Dravidar Kazhagam and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Vaiko have called for rescinding the death penalty.
All the three convicts have been lodged in the Vellore prison. Murugan and Santhan, both cadres of the banned LTTE are Sri Lankan Tamils, while Perarivalan is from Tamil Nadu.
After President Pratibha Patil rejected the mercy petitions, K Arputhammal, mother of Perarivalan, has decided to submit another petition to Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, seeking her help to get the death sentence commuted.