AIADMK, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), has made a significant commitment to minority rights. Following the party’s split from the BJP, AIADMK introduced a calling attention motion over the issue of releasing Muslim prisoners including those who have been convicted for the 1998 Coimbatore Bomb Blasts.
மாண்புமிகு சட்டமன்ற எதிர்கட்சித்தலைவர் புரட்சித்தமிழர் @EPSTamilNadu அவர்கள் இன்று (10.10.2023) தமிழ் நாட்டில் நீண்ட நாள் சிறையில் உள்ள இஸ்லாமிய சிறைவாசிகளை விடுதலை செய்வது குறித்து சட்டப்பேரவையில் சிறப்பு கவன ஈர்ப்பு தீர்மானம் கொண்டு வந்தார் .@AIADMKOfficial… pic.twitter.com/zsVsAPxDH3
— AIADMK IT WING (@AIADMKITWINGOFL) October 10, 2023
The motion called for releasing over 36 Muslim prisoners including the 16 convicts sentenced to life in the 1998 Coimbatore Blasts case on humanitarian grounds considering their long sentences served, old age and health.
The memories of the Coimbatore serial blasts of 1998 are still fresh in people’s minds. On February 14, 1998, a series of powerful bomb explosions rocked Coimbatore, resulting in a tragic loss of life and extensive injuries. The attack targeted a public rally organised by the BJP during the campaign stage of the 1998 Lok Sabha elections. These blasts comprised 12 high-intensity explosions that killed 58 people and injured over 250 individuals.
Investigations into the blasts revealed that the banned Muslim fundamentalist organisation, Al-Umma, led by SA Basha, was responsible for orchestrating this horrific act. The primary objective was to assassinate BJP leader L.K. Advani, who was scheduled to address the rally. The main accused, SA Basha, is serving a life sentence, but concerns persist about his lavish prison lifestyle and frequent paroles.
Despite the severity of the Coimbatore serial blasts and their impact on the nation’s security, they did not receive sufficient national media attention and condemnation at the time.
Responding to the overarching efforts of the AIADMK in appeasing the minorities, especially the Muslims, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party President, K Annamalai slammed the appeasement tactics saying, “In February 1998, a bomb blast by Radical Islamic Fundamentalists in a serene city like Coimbatore led to the loss of 58 lives and injured over 200. The SC last week stuck down the bail application filed by a few convicts in this case & reiterated it as an atrocious act. Despite all this, today, the Tamil Nadu assembly discussed the release of Terrorists serving life imprisonment for their involvement in the Coimbatore bomb blast & other heinous acts.”
He further added, “While the wound of 1998 is yet to heal, last October, a suicide bombing incident shook Coimbatore again & NIA arrested 13 radicals involved in this terrorist act. Minority appeasement seems to have taken the driver’s seat for a few, and the safety of those who elected them has taken the back seat. We hope good sense prevails and the TN CM Thiru MK Stalin will stop this misadventure of releasing the radical Islamic fundamentalists involved in the Coimbatore Bomb Blast from prison.”
In February 1998, a bomb blast by Radical Islamic Fundamentalists in a serene city like Coimbatore led to the loss of 58 lives and injured over 200.
The SC last week stuck down the bail application filed by a few convicts in this case & reiterated it as an atrocious act. Despite…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) October 10, 2023
Whether the Tamil Nadu government led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will allow the release of the convicts is something to wait and watch.
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