Abdul Nasser Madani
Encyclopedia
Abdul Nasser Madani also known as Abdul Nasser Maudani or simply Madani or Maudany (born 1965, Sasthamkotta, Kerala
) is a Muslim
political leader from Kerala
, India
; who has spent more than a decade in Indian prisons though he has not been convicted of any crime till date. Following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, he launched the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), with the stated objective of "Muslim-Dalit-backward caste" alliance.
In 1992, Madani became the target of an assassination attempt, allegedly by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
activist, in which he lost his right leg. However, in Muslim pockets in Kerala, Madani is looked upon as a hero and a saviour.
In August 2010, Madani was arrested by Karnataka police for his alleged involvement in the Bangalore Serial blasts and is currently lodged under judicial custody.
He subsequently formed Islamic Seva Sangh and later launched the P.D.P. to forge a broad Muslim-Dalit-backward alliance.
He is considered a charismatic orator.
When he was jailed, every month PDP supporters took a procession from the Kerala border to Coimbatore to protest, often stopped by the Kerala police.
, Madani's PDP made an alliance with the Left Democratic Front
(LDF), a coalition headed by Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(CPI(M)); in an effort to tap Muslim votes. But the LDF showcased poor performance, by winning only 4 seats out of 20.
Supreme court bench was divided on granting bail to Madani and posted the matter to chief justice of India to form a new bench to decide on the plea. However, a Supreme Court bench was split over granting bail to 2008 Bangalore blast accused Abdul Naseer Madani following which the matter was referred to the Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia for the constitution of a new bench.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
) is a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
political leader from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
; who has spent more than a decade in Indian prisons though he has not been convicted of any crime till date. Following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, he launched the Peoples Democratic Party
Peoples Democratic Party (India)
Peoples Democratic Party , is a political party in Kerala, India. The PDP is known more as the party led by Abdul Nasser Madani, a popular Muslim leader in Kerala.- Office bearers of the party :...
(PDP), with the stated objective of "Muslim-Dalit-backward caste" alliance.
In 1992, Madani became the target of an assassination attempt, allegedly by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
activist, in which he lost his right leg. However, in Muslim pockets in Kerala, Madani is looked upon as a hero and a saviour.
In August 2010, Madani was arrested by Karnataka police for his alleged involvement in the Bangalore Serial blasts and is currently lodged under judicial custody.
Political career & recognitions
At a young age, Madani began delivering the Friday sermons from a local mosque, at Sastham Kotta in south Kerala's Kollam district where he was born in 1965. His oratorical skills were well-received and he soon built up a following.He subsequently formed Islamic Seva Sangh and later launched the P.D.P. to forge a broad Muslim-Dalit-backward alliance.
He is considered a charismatic orator.
When he was jailed, every month PDP supporters took a procession from the Kerala border to Coimbatore to protest, often stopped by the Kerala police.
Assembly resolution
The Kerala assembly on March 16, 2006 passed a unanimous resolution seeking the release of Abdul Nasser Madani, on “humanitarian” grounds.2009 general election
In the 2009 general electionsIndian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
, Madani's PDP made an alliance with the Left Democratic Front
Left Democratic Front
Left Democratic Front is a coalition of left winged political parties in the state of Kerala, in India. This is one of the two major political coalitions in Kerala, each of which have been in power alternatively for the last two decades. LDF is the coalition that is presently in oppposition...
(LDF), a coalition headed by Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
(CPI(M)); in an effort to tap Muslim votes. But the LDF showcased poor performance, by winning only 4 seats out of 20.
Islamic Seva Sangh
Madani had set up the Islamic Seva Sangh in 1989. It was later banned in 1992 following the Babri Masjid demolition.High Court & Supreme observations in Bangalore blast case
Madani is at present lodged in Karnataka jail and is in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the Bangalore serial bomb blast and similar incidents in Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur. Two persons were killed and 20 injured when the blasts rocked the cyber city at nine locations in 2008. As per Karnataka state Home Minister V S Acharya, Madani also allegedly admitted role in the Bangalore stadium blasts on April 17, 2010, which he had denied earlier. After a court issued a fresh non-bailable warrant, he proffered to surrender so as to avoid 'unpleasant situations' when he was to be arrested.. On February 11, 2011, the Karnataka High Court had rejected Madani's plea, who is allegedly a key conspirator in not only the Bangalore blasts but also Surat and Ahmedabad bomb blasts, on the ground that if bail was granted to him it would put the security of the state and the nation in jeopardy. At the last hearing too Justice Katju expressed surprise as to how a person on a wheel chair could pose a threat if released on bail.? The High Court had said, "There is seldom ever that direct evidence is there in such cases. Conspiracy by very nature is hatched in complete secrecy otherwise the whole purpose will be frustrated.Supreme court bench was divided on granting bail to Madani and posted the matter to chief justice of India to form a new bench to decide on the plea. However, a Supreme Court bench was split over granting bail to 2008 Bangalore blast accused Abdul Naseer Madani following which the matter was referred to the Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia for the constitution of a new bench.
False allegation on Coimbatore blast case
He was falsely alleged in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case held on February 14, 1998 that killed 58 people. Madani was imprisoned for nine years as an undertrial.However Madani was acquitted of all charges and was proved to have no connection with the bomb blast. On his release from the case Madani questioned, "It has taken 9 years to prove a truth that i was not involved. But who will give me back the 9 years which i lost in my life for no crime?"External links
- Maudani's Official Website Maudani's Official Website
- Maudani and India's secularists - Daily Pioneer - March 24, 2006
- http://www.newstodaynet.com/2006sud/06mar/2003ss1.htm
- Coimbatore blast case Deccan Herald - January 5, 2005
- Afzal mercy as national discourse _ a national shame Newindpress - December 27, 2006
- WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL The Sunday Indian - December 27, 2006