Chennithala seeks apology from CPM over Maudhany issue

New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Ramesh Chennithala today hailed the dropping of charges against People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Maudhany in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case, and demanded an apology from the CPI(M) for arresting him in connection with the case when its government headed by E K Nayanar was in power in Kerala in 1998.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said it was unfortunate that he was kept in prison for nine years without trial.

When he was in prison, the Congress-led UDF had always tried to get him the benefit of a fair process of law.

"It was the Nayanar government that had arrested Mr Maudhany in connection with the Coimbatore serial blast case. Now that the charges against him have been dropped, it is incumbent on the CPI(M) to apologise to the people," he said.

Asked about Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's statement that he would undertake a fast in front of the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if the centre continued with its negligence in the matter of sanctioning flood relief, Mr Chennithala said "this is nothing but a political drama." "Such statements are made by Mr Achuthanandan only to cover up the failure of his government," he added.

UNI