The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : A case of wrong identity: Kodiyeri

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A case of wrong identity: Kodiyeri

Special Correspondent

Opposition charge of sharing dais with alleged extremist

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday denied the Opposition allegation that he had shared the dais with alleged extremist Abdul Jabbar at a reception given to PDP leader Abdul Nasir Maudany in Thiruvananthapuram following Maudany’s release from the Coimbatore Central Jail.

Intervening in the debate on the demands for supplementary grants for the current year, the Minister noted that the person on the dais was Abdu Rahiman, a secretary of Jama-at, and not Abdul Jabbar, who was arrested by the Kerala Police.

The Muslim League member, who raised the allegation against him in the House, was echoing an allegation raised by the BJP.

Noting that the BJP had opposed the proposal for a joint statement at the all-party conference convened by the Prime Minister to discuss terrorism, the Minister said that the CPI(M) continued to cooperate with the government on such matters.

However, the Opposition was politicising the issue over his and Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s visit to the house of the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and the Chief Minister’s comments on his father’s behaviour.

Despite the incident at Bangalore, the government was committed to doing the needful for the family of the Major who died fighting terrorists. “We are all proud of Sandeep.”

He recalled that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan had earlier telephoned Sandeep’s family to convey his condolences. Before their visit, the political secretary of the Chief Minister had paid homage to the late Major.

When they reached Bangalore, the Director-General of Police advised them against the visit. However, they decided to visit the family whatever be the consequences.

“I talked to Sandeep’s father and he was highly emotional in his response. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister went in to see other family members and they were very courteous. Only the father was agitated (over their visit).”

He reiterated that the government would be providing land to all eligible landless people in two years. Distribution of land to tribal people would be completed by next year.

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