THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has intervened to facilitate PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani’s visit to attend his son’s wedding.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday sent a letter to the Karnataka Government expressing willingness to provide Kerala police escort to Madhani during the visit.Madhani’s bail applications to meet his parents and attend his son’s wedding were granted by the NIA Court in Bangalore and the Supreme Court.
An accused in the Bangalore serial bomb blast case, Madhani was granted bail from August 1 to 14 by both the courts.Madhani’s visit plan hit a roadblock after the Bangalore City Police asked his counsel to pay Rs 14.79 lakh as escort expenses. It includes the salary and travel expenses of a 19-member police team headed by an assistant commissioner.Pinarayi Vijayan, in a statement issued after meeting a PDP delegation, said he doubted the police direction was aimed at preventing Madhani’s visit.
“Madhani had visited Kerala thrice between 2013 and 2016. For the first two visits, police did not charge money and for the third Rs 50,000 was levied. This time the amount asked is huge and is equal to denying justice to him,” Pinarayi said.“When the state takes up escort duty, the Karnataka Police will not have to bear additional expenses. Hence the amount should be reduced,” he said.
Protest planned
PDP vice-chairman Poonthura Siraj has warned the Karnataka Government of serious repercussions if Madhani’s visit did not materialise. “The Siddaramaiah government is playing with fire. He wants to mobilise extremist Hindu votes by harassing Madhani,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.
The PDP leaders will start an indefinite fast in front of the Kerala secretariat if the Karnataka police fail to settle the issue before 3 pm on Thursday, he said.