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'Centre ready to help nab Veerappan'

By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI DEC. 9. The Central Government today offered to help the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments nab the forest brigand, Veerappan, in a joint operation even as the uproar in Karnataka over the killing of the former Minister and Janata Dal (U) leader, H. Nagappa, by Veerappan found an echo in the Lok Sabha with BJP members demanding the resignation of the Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna.

Voicing the concern expressed by members during the 40-minute heated discussion in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, said the Government was willing to provide all help possible within Constitutional parameters to the two States to put an end to Veerappan's brand of terrorism.

Given the accusations made by the BJP benches against the Karnataka Government, Mr. Mahajan said "had it been easy to nab Veerappan, he would have been caught earlier''. As for Central intervention, he said the Government was prepared to provide manpower — be it police, NSG or the Army — to conduct the joint operation.

Raised by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, during zero hour with a plea not to politicise the matter, the discussion became heated as the BJP leader, V.K. Malhotra, sought the resignation of Mr. Krishna, whom he accused of being more bothered about the Gujarat elections than the fate of Mr. Nagappa.

Rejecting the demand, the Congress accused the BJP of doublespeak for not making a similar demand when the Akshardham temple in Gujarat was attacked by militants.

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