The family members of Sasi Perumal have agreed to accept the body and do the final rites in his native E. Mettukkadu village on Friday, heeding the advice of the leaders of several political parties including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan.
The leaders, under the banner of Makkal Nalan Kakkum Kuttu Iyakkam, came to the village on Thursday morning. They spent more than two hours there, convincing S. Vivek, the late Gandhian’s elder son, who is on indefinite fast for the past six days and other family members on the need for bringing Sasi Perumal’s body home.The body, slowly decomposing, is now at the Asaripallam Government Hospital in Nagercoil.
Mr. Vaiko and Thirumavalavan told presspersons that the family members have decided to receive the body, for which they will be proceeding to Nagercoil immediately. Mr. Vaiko is expected to accompany them. They also added that the family members have decided to bury the body in the campus where his house is situated in the village on Friday evening.
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The leaders tried to convince Vivek to withdraw his fast, assuring him that they will continue the campaign for total prohibition in the state. Mr. Vivek assured them that he would withdraw the fast after his father’s burial. Mr. Vivek later told presspersons that the family has decided to bring back the body in deference to the request of the political leaders.
Meanwhile, a doctor’s team checked Vivek’s condition once in the morning and once in the afternoon. One of the doctors said that there was lot of change in his blood pressure and pulse rate. There was a chance of him getting an electrolyte imbalance due to his continuous fasting. He has been advised treatment immediately. However, the family sources said he declined treatment.