The Hindu : Front Page : Achuthanandan seeks treatment for Maudhany

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 11, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Achuthanandan seeks treatment for Maudhany

Special Correspondent

He holds talks with Karunanidhi on inter-State issues

WARM WELCOME: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan calls on his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Saturday requested his Tamil Nadu counterpart, M. Karunanidhi, to make immediate arrangements for the treatment of the jailed PDP leader Abdul Nasser Maudhany on "humanitarian grounds."

He met Mr.Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence on Saturday and was closeted with him for more than 45 minutes.

Talking to presspersons later, he said he had "extensive and serious discussions" with Mr. Karunanidhi on inter-State issues, including those affecting both States.

Mr. Achuthanandan said Maudhany had been in prison for more than eight years in Tamil Nadu. "His weight has reduced from 104 [kg] to 54 [kg] and he has many serious diseases. Hence, I brought to the notice of the [Tamil Nadu] Chief Minister the need to enlarge him on bail on humanitarian grounds," he said.

He stressed the need for immediate treatment to Maudhany and Mr.Karunanidhi agreed to the request for treatment. The remaining issues related to courts and these could be handled legally.

(Maudhany was arrested in Kochi on March 31, 1998 and handed over to the Tamil Nadu police on April 8, 1998 in connection with the Coimbatore serial blasts case. He was remanded to judicial custody the next day.)

Mr. Achuthanandan said Mr. Karunanidhi had brought to his notice issues relating to water and culture. "We have agreed that talks should be held and these issues sorted out amicably," he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said Mr. Achuthanandan had brought to his notice the condition of Maudhany and requested medical treatment to save him. "I assured him that whatever medical treatment is required will be done," Mr. Karunanidhi said. On the question of his enlargement on bail, he said that these were legal steps that they had to take.

River water issues

He said both of them had a long discussion on river water issues, ranging from Mullaiperiyar to Neyyar.

Mr. Achuthanandan informed him that the Kerala Cabinet would meet soon and discuss the issues. Later, Ministers of both States would meet to sort out river water sharing problems, he said.

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