Nimisha Priya case: Chandy Oommen’s meeting with Governor played vital role in latest developments
The Governor also spoke to Nimisha Priya’s mother, who is now in Yemen, over a video call and promised all the help.
The Governor also spoke to Nimisha Priya’s mother, who is now in Yemen, over a video call and promised all the help.
The Governor also spoke to Nimisha Priya’s mother, who is now in Yemen, over a video call and promised all the help.
Thiruvananthapuram: Crucial backstage moves led to the recent developments related to the case of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala who is on death row in Yemen. Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar intervened in the issue after Chandy Oommen MLA and his mother Mariyamma Oommen, who is the wife of former chief minister the late Oommen Chandy, met him at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.
“The release of Nimisha Priya was Oommen Chandy’s biggest wish, and he strived to achieve that goal, ignoring his deteriorating health,” said Mariyamma.
After the meeting, the Governor contacted the Ministry of External Affairs, Gulf-based Malayali businessman M A Yusuff Ali, and the royal families in Abu Dhabi and Oman over the phone.
A few days later, Chandy Oommen visited the Raj Bhavan again, accompanied by Nimisha Priya’s husband. The Governor also spoke to Nimisha Priya’s mother, who is now in Yemen, over a video call and promised all the help.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to save Nimisha Priya from the death sentence. A similar letter was sent by Opposition Leader V D Satheesan to President Draupadi Murmu. Meanwhile, businessperson Boby Chemmannur also launched efforts for the release of the nurse from Kerala.
Reacting to the postponement of Nimisha Priya’s death sentence, Chandy Oommen said that the chief goal should be the release of Nimisha Priya from prison. “We are engaged in efforts to bring Nimisha Priya back to Kerala. The government had announced six months ago that it would launch an initiative to collect funds for Nimisha Priya’s release. But there was no follow-up,” he added.
Chandy Oommen also said that Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliar could be contacted only recently. “The Governor’s intervention also proved crucial. Industrialist Sajan Joseph was also involved in the moves. Deepa Joseph and Subhash Chandran have been engaged in the efforts for many years,” he said.