Annamalai Criticises TN Assembly Discussion To Release Prisoners Including 1998 Coimbatore Blast Convicts Serving Life Imprisonment

Responding to the proceedings in the State Assembly today (10 October), in which AIADMK leader and former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) urged the DMK government to release 36 Muslim convicts serving life imprisonment, including 16 who are in prison for their role in the Coimbatore blasts, BJP state president K Annamalai wrote that minority appeasement had taken the driver's seat for a few and the safety of those who voted for them had taken a back seat.

Both the DMK and the AIADMK have supported their release.

He wrote, "In February 1998, a bomb blast by Radical Islamic Fundamentalists in a serene city like Coimbatore led to the loss of 58 lives and injured over 200.

"The SC last week stuck down the bail application filed by a few convicts in this case & reiterated it as an atrocious act. Despite all this, today, the Tamil Nadu assembly discussed the release of Terrorists serving life imprisonment for their involvement in the Coimbatore bomb blast & other heinous acts.

"While the wound of 1998 is yet to heal, last October, a suicide bombing incident shook Coimbatore again & NIA arrested 13 radicals involved in this terrorist act.

"Minority appeasement seems to have taken the driver's seat for a few, and the safety of those who elected them has taken the back seat. We hope good sense prevails and the TN CM Thiru @mkstalin will stop this misadventure of releasing the radical Islamic fundamentalists involved in the Coimbatore Bomb Blast from prison."

The AIADMK has been seeking support of the Muslims after snapping ties with the BJP. While in the alliance, a number of AIADMK leaders had stated the alliance with the BJP was the reason for the AIADMK's loss of Muslim votes.

Also Read: 'Ended Alliance With BJP As Per Your Wish. Now Support AIADMK': EPS Plea To Muslim Community