The Hindu : Nagappa's death: Seers firm on CBI probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Nagappa's death: Seers firm on CBI probe

By Our Staff Correspondent

KOLLEGAL, (C'NAGAR), JAN. 9. Reiterating the demand for a CBI inquiry into the death of the former minister, H. Nagappa, heads of various maths today urged the State Government to hand over the probe to the Central agency.

Participating at a religious convention in Kamagere, near here, in memory of the former minister, H. Nagappa, the seers clarified that there was no caste politics in their demand, and that the convention had representatives from all castes and parties.

In the democratic set-up, the pontiffs said, the common man had to know the truth behind the mysterious death of the former minister.

While the convention had been termed as a non-political event, political leaders and senior pontiffs blamed the Government for the death of Nagappa.

The pontiffs argued that the State Government did not evince the interest it showed when Rajkumar was kidnapped in Nagappa's case.

The seers exhorted Parimala Nagappa to contest elections to defeat the "evil forces."

The Chamarajanagar District in-charge minister, Raju Gowda, also came in for attack.

Clarifying the stand taken by various maths on the issue, the Pontiff of Siddaganga Math, Shivakumara Mahaswamy, said that the seers took interest in efforts to secure the release of Nagappa after the Government failed to take serious note of the issue. He said the life of the former minister could have been saved had the Government initiated proper efforts.

Urging the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, not to play the caste card, he said that the Chief Minister was not the representative of one community, but of the State. He also said that the comments passed by ministers and MLAs in the Assembly on Ms. Parimala Nagappa was unethical and uncalled for.

Defending the action of maths during the kidnap crisis, he said that they evinced interest in securing the release of Nagappa since he was a spiritual minded person, and had a close association with them.

The pontiff said: "Since the Government was working overtime to secure the release of Mr. Rajkumar, the maths did not interfere then.

However, the same Government did not work towards securing the release of Nagappa, prompting the maths to take up the issue."

In a strongly worded speech, the Suttur Math seer, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, asked the Government that "if Tamil Nadu and Karnataka STFs were not involved in the encounter, who was involved?"

Answers to such questions could only be provided by the Central investigation agency, he added.

He regretted that various caste groups were trying to mislead the Government.

Taking strong objection to some sections issuing statements in favour of the Krishna Government to please the leaders, he said that the Government should discourage sycophants, and look to what the people felt. Power was temporary, but human values and relationships were long lasting, he added.

Urging Ms. Parimala Nagappa to contest elections to fight the "evil forces," the Kotturswamy Math pontiff, Sanganabasava Swamiji, said evil forces had become strong in the State due to a weak Opposition.

He said that the Government did not yield to the pressure of the Opposition for a CBI probe as the Opposition was weak.

Blaming the Government for the death of Nagappa, the Pejawar Math seer, Vishweshwara Tirtha, said that the efforts started late.

The action started only after the religious meet called for it. He also demanded that the investigation be handed over to the CBI.

Ten pontiffs representing various maths from across the State participated in the convention.

The convention also saw an attendance of more than 20,000 people, a large number of whom had come from distant places such as Bellary, Gulbarga, and Belgaum.

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Nagappa's death: Seers firm on CBI probe