THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vadhasiksha Virudha Samithy, a forum against capital punishment, has called for a State-wide hartal on May 4 in protest against the Government delay in considering the mercy petitions of prisoners recommended by the jail advisory boards.

Rashtriya Mahasabha leader M. Geethanandan and the samithy leader K. Rajmohan told mediapersons here on Monday that Annamma, an 80-year-old prisoner at the women's jail, was also among the prisoners whose cases had been recommended by the boards.

Samithy convener K. Gireesh Kumar had already started an indefinite fast before the Secretariat to press for release of such prisoners. Social and cultural activists would meet Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan demanding their release. If the Government failed to act before May 4, the Samithy would observe a hartal in protest against the delay, they said.

The Gothra Mahasabha, Dalit Students Movement and various other organisations declared solidarity with the samithy and had floated a Sathyagraha Samithy in support of Mr. Gireesh Kumar.

A public convention to be held here on May 1 will form a hartal organising committee. Vehicle jathas have been planned to propagate the message of the agitation. One of the jathas will begin from Thrissur on April 25 and conclude here on April 28. A relay fast will be held before the Kannur Collectorate from April 26. A convention will also be held in Kannur in the evening.

The samithy leaders accused the Government of denying the rights of women, aged and the sick prisoners who have sought early remission of the sentence. This was also a reflection of the attitude of the Government towards the marginalised sections, they said.

The Government failed to honour the commitment to withdraw the cases in connection with the Adivasi agitation at Muthanga. The Government should relinquish its partisan approach to the elite classes and cruelty to the marginalised.

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