Karunanidhi blames Patel Govt.

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 13. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, today virtually blamed the erstwhile J.H. Patel regime in Karnataka for ``unwittingly contributing'' to the Veerappan-triggered abduction crisis involving the Kannada thespian, Mr. Rajkumar.

Replying to a discussion in the Assembly, he said that after Veerappan's abduction of nine Karnataka forest officials in July 1997, the two Governments in negotiating their release through the Nakkeeran Editor, Mr. R.R. Gopal, had said that TADA detenus languishing in Mysore prison, facing no specific charges, would be released and specific cases would be speedily pursued.

But, even a year after Veerappan had freed the officials, the then Patel Government had taken no follow-up action, despite ``my repeated reminders,'' Mr. Karunanidhi said.

To his last reminder in May 1999, Mr. Patel had said that the question of TADA detenus' release would arise only if the brigand had surrendered. ``It is now the release of these (nearly 120) detenus which has become the major issue,'' in the Rajkumar abduction episode, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out, regretting Karnataka's ``inaction'' on this score.

Our Erode Staff Reporter writes:

The Tamils Nationalists Movement leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran, and two other negotiators, Prof. Kalyani and Mr. Sugumaran, were waiting today for a signal from Veerappan to enter the forests, according to information.

Mr. R.R. Gopal is yet to reach the Sathyamangalam area and it is reliably learnt that he would join with Mr. Nedumaran tomorrow.

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