With increasing incidents of honour killing and caste murders in Tamil Nadu, the Centre and the State governments should immediately bring in a legislation to take stringent action against those involved in such heinous crimes, CPIM Tamil Nadu Secretary, G. Ramakrishnan said today.

Replying to a specific question on the killing of Dalit youth Shankar in Udumalpet in Tirupur district two days ago, Ramakrishnan told a press conference here that the four-party People Welfare Front had already included a request for such a legislation in its manifesto.

Stating that 81 such killings were reported in Tamil Nadu in the last three years, he said that the then Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam had rejected the idea claiming that there were no such incidents in State, when the MLAs in the Assembly sought to bring a legislation.

Without considering political affiliation or vote bank politics, it was the responsibility of all parties to put an end to such heinous crimes, he said, adding that DMK and AIADMK had so far not condemned the killings.

Commenting on the GAIL gas pipeline project, he said the Centre should immediately change the GAIL gas pipeline project proposed to be laid across the fertile lands of farmers and instead take it through highways.

Stating that the Election Commission had not taken any action when CPIM cadres seized and handed over money meant for distribution to the voters during the last Assembly elections, Ramakrishnan expressed hope that at least this time the authorities will be more alert to prevent circulation of money.