Karpal urges Waytha to end fast

Karpal also urges the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, to resume talks with the Hindraf leadership

GEORGE TOWN: DAP supremo Karpal Singh has urged Hindraf Makkal Sakti supremo P Waythamoorthy to end his hunger strike which will complete its 21 days on Sunday.

Karpal said Waythamoothy should not put his life in danger that would jeopardise his and Hindraf’s ethnic Indian cause.

Karpal also called on the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, to resume talks with the Hindraf leadership and find an amicable solution to end the Hindraf blueprint stalemate.

“Waythamoorthy should not risk his life. He has made his point.

“He should end his fast before it endangers his health,” a visibly moved Karpal told a press conference in Air Itam here today.

In the wake of Waythamoorthy’s hunger strike that began on March 10, the Bukit Gelugor two-term parliamentarian called on all parties to look into the predicament of Indians in the country in the light of Hindraf’s blueprint.

Karpal noted that Hindraf had presented the blueprint, designed to find a permanent solution to marginalised ethnic Indian issues, to both the Barisan Nasional federal government and Pakatan.

Hinting that gratitude must be shown, Karpal said that there was no doubt that Pakatan owed its victory in the 2008 general election to Hindraf’s political activities.

“I call upon in particular Pakatan leader Anwar to carefully consider the position and have a relook at the blueprint in a view to come into some consensus,” said the DAP national chairman.

Waythamoorthy started his hunger strike or unnaa virutham to compel either or both Pakatan and BN to endorse and implement its blueprint for the betterment of marginalisd Indian community.

During a candlelight vigil in Prai last night, some Hindraf supporters expressed fear of their leader’s deteriorating health after 20 days of fasting.

They want Waythamoorthy to end his fast soon because “we do not want to lose an honest, sincere and dedicated leader for the Indian community.”

After consuming only water for nearly 20 days, they said Waythamoorthy was now weak and disorientated, and suffering from erratic blood pressure.

The Hindraf leadership is expected to make a decision on Sunday on whether or not to compel Waythamoorthy to end his fast.