India
Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan praised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for taking the stand that the case filed against him was a fake one.
Thiruvananthapuram: Former ISRO Chief Nambi Narayanan, who was acquitted in the infamous ISRO espionage case, was handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh by Kerala chief minister as compensation, ordered by the Supreme Court. In the gathering held at Durbar Hall, Pinarayi Vijayan presented the cheque to Nambi Narayanan. State Ministers EP Jayarajan and E Chandrasekharan took part in the function.
Nambi Narayanan praised Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan for taking the stand that the case filed against the scientist was a fake one. He also hinted at a larger conspiracy behind the espionage case rather than a mere political game to oust K Karunakaran from the chief minister’s chair.
“At least for now, people should know the truth behind this intention. Russia was ready to handover modern Cryogenic rocket technology to India. As its director, I was the person, who signed the deal for this. That is the truth. America had come out against this and India wanted to procure it at any cost. It was after this that Sibi Mathew’s team cooked up the case. They should now reveal the intention behind that. And, if they don’t, I hope that the Supreme Court-appointed committee would find this out,” he said.
24 years ago, Narayanan was arrested, but he was later absolved of all charges. The Supreme Court on September 14 had ordered the state government to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation to Nambi Narayanan.
“This is the sixth Chief Minister after the case was filed. Now I am confident that the government stands with me; unlike the other chief ministers. Vijayan has the right understanding about the case for he said that I could negotiate for the compensation. Raman Srivastava, who was also falsely tainted, is currently the advisor to the chief minister. This also shows that Vijayan has the right perspective,” he said.
Vijayan said there are lessons to be learnt from this case in terms of how fabricated evidence could be used to destroy someone.
“When I was suffering in pain from the custodial torture, I cried and told them that they were doing it to a man who had done nothing illegal. The IB men then told me if they would come to know that I’m innocent, they would come to my house and I can slap their face with chappals. Today, I’m completely acquitted. None of the IB men came to my house. If they come, I have kept my slippers ready to slap them,” Nambi Narayanan said earlier at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
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