A 45-year-old MDMK party cadre who set himself on fire in Madurai to protest against the proposed Indian Neutrino Project to be set up in Theni passed away on Monday.
Ravi alias Sivakasi Ravi, a youth wing functionary of the party, immolated self during a Madurai rally by MDMK chief Vaiko on Saturday.
He was rushed to Apollo hospital nearby after suffering severe burns from the incident. The attempt was made a short while after Vaiko was to begin his 10-day Padayatra "to create awareness on the impact of the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project on the farm lands,” according to a report.
Ravi who had sustained 90 percent burn injuries, was later shifted to a government hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.
Eye witnesses stated that Ravi had doused himself with petrol from a can he had brought and set a lighted match close to the dais. Those standing close to the dais threw sand on him and covered him with a cloth.
Weeping during the rally, Vaiko said "Mother Nature, please save that brother," referring to Ravi. Speaking at the event, Vaiko said that he often advised his cadres against self-immolation for causes, according to the report.
Vaiko's Padayatra was inaugurated at Theni by DMK's working president MK Stalin. Several political parties in the State are up in arms against the clearance given to the Neutrino project, given by the Environment Ministry.
Parties have also demanded that the clearance by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board be held back.