The Hindu : Will Jayalalithaa step down, asks Elangovan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Will Jayalalithaa step down, asks Elangovan

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Aug. 26. Will the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, step down in the wake of the kidnapping of the former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa, by the forest bandit, Veerappan, the TNCC president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, asked here today.

Recalling that she had made a similar demand during the actor Rajkumar kidnap drama, when the DMK was in power, Mr. Elangovan also asked whether the AIADMK Government, which had declared that it would apprehend Veerappan, would at least change its strategy now.

It was evident that the strategy of employing the former DGP, W.I. Dawaram, had failed and the Government should accept this fact. The Special Task Force assessment that the Veerappan gang had shrunk also turned out to be wrong.

The need of the hour was to capture the bandit at all costs, even if the exercise entailed some collateral damage. ``This drama has gone on for too long. There should be no excuses. He has to be caught, dead or alive.''

Calling upon Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to be firm on the issue, Mr. Elangovan said both Governments should not consider any ``exchange'' to secure the release of Mr. Nagappa.

Our Udhagamandalam Staff Reporter reports:

``With Veerappan having exposed his location, no efforts would be spared at zeroing in on him,'' the Minister for Forests and Environment, P. Mohan, told mediapersons at Udhagamandalam today.

Replying to questions, he said Ms. Jayalalithaa had asked the forest personnel and the STF to grab the opportunity and nab the fugitive. He could not escape this time. Following Sunday' incident no special precautionary steps had been taken in the forest areas of Tamil Nadu abutting the kidnap spot, apart from the usual safety measures.

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