Bangalore: Bowing to the Opposition demand to end the Nagappa hostage crisis only
through negotiations, the Karnataka government on November 23 indicated that it was
examining the legal aspects of sending jailed Tamil activist Kollathur Mani as an
emissary to forest brigand Veerappan.
"We have accepted negotiations. The government is party to that. Whosoever goes, we
will send," Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters after a two-hour long
meeting with Opposition leaders, who pressed for sending Mani as emissary.
Asked if Mani would be sent, Kharge said there were 'legal hurdles', as he was facing
five cases, but added that the legal department would examine how to overcome
them.
He said that unless the hurdles were cleared and Mani was released on bail, he could
not be sent. Or else, the government would have to withdraw the cases against him, he
said.
The government, he said, was willing to send 'whosoever goes' to bring about a
negotiated end to the hostage crisis.
The meet, called by Chief Minister S M Krishna, will be followed up with a Cabinet
meeting in the afternoon.
Law Minister D B Chandregowda said all suggestions made by Opposition parties,
including sending Mani as an emissary, would be placed before the Cabinet.
JD-U (Janata Dal-United) leader C Byregowda said they had made it clear to the
government that they opposed the Special Task Force operations and said Mani should
be sent for mediation. Echoing similar views, Opposition BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said negotiations was the only way to end the
crisis.
Veerappan has set a 12-day deadline to send Mani, failing which he has threatened to
kill Nagappa.
PTI
