"Madhani can seek bail" Karunanidhi

Chennai, Jun 10 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said that it was open for People's Democratic Party Chief Abdul Nazar Madhani, who had been detained in Coimbatore prison for the last eight years, to approach court and seek bail.

Mr Karunanidhi made this clear to his Kerala counterpart V S Achuthanandan, when the latter called on him at his Gopalapuram residence here this evening and requested him to ensure the release of Madhani at the earliest.

''As far as the issue of release of Madhani is concerned, he has to approach the court for bail and the legal steps will have to be taken by them,'' Mr Karunanidhi told waiting newspersons, emerging out from a 45-minute long meeting with Mr Achuthanandan.

However, when Mr Achuthanandan brought to his notice the ill health of Madhani, Mr Karunanidhi assured that the prisoner would would be provided with immediate medical assistances. ''Emergency steps will be taken for providing treatment to Madhani,'' he said.

Mr Achuthananandan said Madhani, who was arrested in connection with the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blast cases, was languishing in the prison for the eight years and suffering from various diseases.

His weight had come down from 104 kgs to 54 kgs now, he said.

He told Mr Karunanidhi that Madhani was very week and stressed the need to to provide him medical treatment on humanitarian ground, he said.

The two leaders said that they discussed cultural and water issues, including the vexed Mullaiperiyar and Noyyar water problem in Kanniyakumari district and agreed to resolved them through negotiations.

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