Abdul Nasser Madhani, the 12th accused in the 1998 attempt on Shri L.K. Advani in Coimbatore, has been acquitted of all charges including criminal conspiracy, supply of weapons etc. by the special bomb blasts case Judge on August 1. Out of the 167 accused, which relates to the case of planting several bombs in the city, aimed at Shri Advani, which killed scores and mutilated hundreds, hardly six-seven have been acquitted and Madhani falls in the lucky few.
Madhani was the hot favourite of both the Congress-led UDF and the CPM-led LDF. The UDF in 2001 and the LDF in 2006 rode to power promising release of Madhani. UDF/LDF leaders like Oommen Chandy, Pinarayi Vijayan were his regular visitors in Coimbatore prison, not to mention ministers and MPs of both camps. In 2006, prior to Assembly polls, the Kerala Assembly in a special session demanded from Tamil Nadu parole for Madhani! When President Kalam visited Kerala, the entire UDF/LDF MLAs gave representation for Madhani'srelease from the jail!
The strange judicial verdict may be the result of the conspiracy of the CPM-led Kerala and Karunanidhi-led Tamil Nadu in weakening the prosecution case against Madhani. On Kerala'srequest Madhani was given special Ayurvedic treatment. When Karunanidhi and V.S. Atchudanandan met, the topic was not Mullaperiyar or Salem Division of Railways, but Madhani! In the judgement, banned Al-Umma leaders Basha, Tajudeen and Ooma Babu have been convicted for conspiracy with Madhani for supply of bombs, weapons from Kerala aimed at mass murders, but Madhani has been let scot-free!
As soon as the judgement came, all parties, big and small, in both camps of UDF and LDF have welcomed Madhani'sacquittal after nine years in prison. Chief Minister V.S. Atchudanandan, former CM Oomen Chandy, union ministers Vayalar Ravi and E. Ahmed, Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI leader Panniyan Raveendran, R. Balakrishna Pillai etc. have come on TV screens comparing Madhani to Lord Krishna, Jesus Christ, Mohammed Nabi, Buddha, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela! The game vote banks play!
Perhaps the lone dissenting voice, BJP leader O. Rajagopal has asked Tamil Nadu state to go in appeal against the order, to Supreme Court.
The Hindus in Kerala are keeping their fingers crossed. They are witness to the extremist acts committed by Madhani like Poonthura riots, Chalai riots and inflammatory speeches made throughout the state against Hindus. With Madhani on the prowl, Hindu sangathan is the only hope. Better now than never.
