New Delhi:
Amidst widespread protest against Ireland's abortion laws that led to the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny insisted he will not take a rushed decision on abortion.
"I'm not going to be rushed into the situation by force of numbers on any side. This is something which needs to be treated rationally and openly and truthfully, and that's what will happen," Mr Kenny said.
Meanwhile, activists have launched a campaign called 'Postcard for Savita' supporting a change in the country's tough anti-abortion laws.
The activists supporting the campaign are urging people to write to the Irish government that they will not take part in the tourism initiative until the government ensures that such an incident never happens again.
Ms Sinéad Redmond, spokesperson for the advocacy group Irish Choice Network, said, "Our government has not said enough, has not come in strongly enough. Please help us in keeping the pressure up on them, please protest outside the Irish embassies near you, please write to the government, e-mail them. Let them know that saying clarity alone is needed is not enough, it's meaningless and it makes a mockery of Savita's death."
M Ganapathi, secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, met with the Irish ambassador Feilim McLaughlin yesterday and stressed that people in India were unhappy that "a young life had come to an untimely end". (Read:
India summons Irish envoy)
The Irish health authority (HSE) has launched an inquiry into Savita's death.
Savita, 31, died late last month of septicaemia following a miscarriage 17 weeks into her pregnancy. She was admitted to hospital in severe pain on October 21 and asked for a termination after doctors told her the baby would not survive, according to her husband Praveen.
The foetus was surgically removed when its heartbeat stopped days later, but her family believes the delay contributed to the blood poisoning that killed her on October 28.
Ireland's government pledged on Thursday to clarify its abortion laws; thousands took to the streets to protest on Wednesday after news broke of 31-year-old Savita's death.
Irish law does not specify under what circumstances the threat to the life or health of the mother is high enough to justify a termination, leaving doctors to decide. Critics say this means doctors' personal beliefs can play a role.