T.N., Karnataka accede to Veerappan's major demands

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, AUG. 6. The Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments today acceded to the ``major demands'' placed by the forest brigand, Veerappan, and urged him to release the veteran Kannada actor, Mr. Rajkumar, and three others, held hostage for the last one week.

After a two-hour closed-door confabulation, Mr. M. Karunanidhi and Mr. S.M. Krishna, Chief Ministers of the two States, told a press conference, ``We have responded favourably to all the 10 demands. We hope wisdom will prevail.''

Earlier, Mr. Krishna, accompanied by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ananth Kumar, the Karnataka Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjuna Kharge, and senior officials of his Government, arrived in Chennai to discuss with the Tamil Nadu Government the official response to Veerappan's demands. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister, Mr. Arcot N. Veerasamy, was also present at the discussion.

Ransom not sought

To a question whether Veerappan had demanded amnesty and payment of Rs. 50 crores as ransom, Mr. Karunanidhi said he had not received such demands. According to a statement listing the brigand's demands and the responses of the two Governments, circulated at the press conference, the ``demands'' include implementation of the interim order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, adequate compensation and protection to Tamil victims of the 1991 riots in Karnataka on the Cauvery issue, the release of ``innocent persons'' kept in Karnataka jails and five detained in Tamil Nadu prisons, and immediate steps for unveiling a statue of Thiruvalluvar in Bangalore.

In their response, the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments agreed to install and unveil statues of Tamil savant, Thiruvalluvar, and Kannada poet, Sarvajna, in Bangalore and Chennai respectively. The Chief Ministers of both the States would participate in the functions. While Karnataka agreed to drop TADA charges against some prisoners, Tamil Nadu would consider ``favourably'' the question of releasing five persons from its jails.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said the responses of the two Governments would be conveyed to Veerappan through a messenger sent by Mr. R.R. Gopal, official emissary and Nakkeeran editor. Besides, his talk - detailing the stand of the two Governments on this issue - would be broadcast over the All India Radio.

Extremists' backing?

On whether any Tamil chauvinist group had joined hands with Veerappan in his operations, Mr. Karunanidhi said, ``There are reports to suggest this perception, but there is no confirmation yet... Veerappan himself may have turned a Tamil extremist.''

He, however, said there was nothing wrong in displaying deep love towards one's mother tongue; but one should not indulge in acts of terrorism.

On the voice of the person in the cassette received on Saturday, Mr. Krishna said, ``We are no voice specialists or analysts. We believe that it is Veerappan's as we got the cassette from him.''

Mr. Karunanidhi said Mr. Gopal met the sandalwood smuggler this morning and was expected to return to the city shortly.

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