A group of 30 women have staged a fast unto death in Chennai from Monday, demanding UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to take steps to stop the war in Sri Lanka.

The group headed by human rights activist Prof. Saraswati, claims to be unaffiliated to any political or social organisation and say that they simply are people who have come together spontaneously, concerned by the deaths of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Although the group claims to be unaffiliated Prof. Saraswati is a known activist and is related to Periyar Dravida Kazhagam leader Viduthalai Rajendran.

Their primary demand is for Sonia Gandhi, “Sonia Gandhi should stop the war. She has both the power and responsibility to do so. She knows the pain of loss so she should act on this immediately,” said Saraswati.

Asked why they have chosen this method of protest she said, “Many organisations have tried many different ways but everything has failed to turn the attention (of the people and government) towards the Eelam Tamils deaths. That is why we have chosen to come together and fast.”

They have chosen the spot where Muthukumar’s – who self-immolated for Eelam Tamils - body was kept for public viewing in Kolathur. “We chose this spot in memory of Muthukumar,” she says.