Kerala to help get parole for jailed Muslim cleric: CM Ramesh Babu Thiruvananthapuram, March 19, 2007
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The Kerala Government would take all steps to get parole for Abdul Nasser Madhani, the Muslim cleric cooling his heels in Tamil Nadu jail for last nine years in connection with copycat blasts in Coimbatore, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan assured the legislative assembly on Monday.
Replying to a question by KT Jaleel (CPM-backed Independent) the Chief Minister said Madhani has been given Ayurvedic treatment in Coimbatore central jail after his Government took up the issue of his failing health with the neighboring government.
Achuthanandan said his TN counterpart has promised him to look into the issue of granting parole to the ailing Madhani after examining all legal aspects. “The state would take all possible steps to get him released on parole at the earliest,” he said.
In the last assembly elections Madhani was a hot campaign issue for the CPM-led Left Democratic Front. Eyeing minority votes many of its leaders openly flaunted his picture and promised a 'smooth release of the jailbird.” CPM MP TK Hamsa had even visited him in the jail and succeeded in getting his open support to the LDF candidates.
While in power the Congress-led United Democratic Front had also made several attempts to get him released on parole. The legislative assembly had passed a unanimous resolution in last March and then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had met his Tamil Nadu counterpart twice but TN CM Jayalalitha refused to entertain the state’s plea citing 'serious nature' of charges registered against him.
In 1998 blasts LK Advani had a close shave as his copter arrived half-an-hour late at the meeting venue in Coimbatore. Before his arrival bombs went off at the stadium and other four other places taking 58 lives.
A month later, Madani was arrested from his house in Ernakulam and handed over to Tamil Nadu police. Ironically, the then Nayanar government had listed his arrest as one of the big achievements of the LDF regime.
But what Madani’s sympathisers cite now is his failing health and long detention without parole. He lost one of his legs in an alleged RSS attack and the other is near amputation due to chronic diabetes.
The 'moderate' Muslim League was often accused of blocking his release fearing that the fundamentalist leader would hijack its hold over the community.
Founder of Islamic Seva Sangh (ISS) Madani floated a political party - People’s Democratic Party - PDP - once the ISS was banned after the Babri Masjid demolition.
