CBI should appeal against Madhani acquittal: Advani

Bhopal, Sep 22 (UNI) Senior BJP leader L K Advani today demanded that the CBI file an appeal against the trial court decision acquitting PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani, the main accused in the Coimbatore blast in which 58 people were killed.

''Since the trial court had ruled that the prosecution had failed to bring evidence against Madhani, it was the duty of the Government of India and the CBI to file appeal against the acquittal'', Mr Advani said at a public meeting here coinciding with the three-day BJP national executive meeting that began here yesterday.

''The government must ensure that the main conspirator was punished. Madhani's case was not different from Afsal, who was awarded death penalty in the Parliament attack case'', he said, lamenting that the death penalty was yet to be implemented.

BJP President Rajnath Singh, in his address, said in the event of their return to power at the Centre, the BJP would introduce a legislation providing stringent punishment to curb terrorism.

UNI