Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa continued her tirade against the
Congress, but this time taking on Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on the
Veerappan kidnap issues on September 2.
Ruling out any negotiations with the brigand for the release of former minister H
Nagappa – the recent abduction victim – Jayalalithaa alleged that Karnataka had paid
a ransom of Rs 30 crore for the release of matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, who had been
kidnapped by Veerappan two years ago.
"Our aim is to go all out to capture Veerappan without jeopardising the life of
Nagappa," she told a press conference.
Jayalalithaa said that joint special task force (STF) operations by Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka was on and efforts were on all out to nab Veerappan.
She said Veerappan is said to have abandoned the bus in which he kidnapped Nagappa
at a place 30-km from Tamil Nadu border and the police would see to it that he would
not enter Tamil Nadu.
She said there was a regular exchange of information between Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka on the ongoing operations. She would be meeting Nagappa's wife on
September 3 in Chennai.
Asked whether the Karnataka government was dilly-dallying on the operations, she
said there have been no further communications from the Karnataka Chief Minister.
Asked whether she would support a move for holding negotiations with Veerappan or
send emissaries for the purpose she said no such proposal has been discussed with
Karnataka government.
"I am definitely opposed to such a proposal."
Jayalalithaa said that Karnataka government has not told her about
receipt of any second cassette from Veerappan.
The first cassette which did not contain any specific demands Karnataka
Chief Minister S M Krishna told her. The Chief Minister also said the
police was probing the alleged links between Veerappan and Karunanidhi.
When told that Karunanidhi had black cat commandoes and could not have
met anybody in private, Jayalalithaa said there numerous instances when
Karunanidhi had given a slip NSG commandoes and met people.
On release of Dr Raj Kumar, she said vast sums of money were paid to get
him released.
The money has gone to Veerappan and it was given by Karnataka.
PTI
