Bangalore: Under attack for his handling of the Nagappa hostage crisis, Karnataka
Chief Minister S M Krishna on December 9 dismissed the Opposition demand for his
resignation and asserted that the government was ready to face the political fallout
of the bloody end to the kidnap issue.
Seeking to turn the tables on Opposition parties which called for his resignation
for allegedly "mishandling" the Nagappa crisis, he asked them to explain why they
mounted pressure on government to call off the special task force (STF) operations
against forest brigand Veerappan.
"The Opposition which has been orchestrating for my resignation, owes an explanation
to the people on why they pressurised the government to call off STF operations," he
fumed talking to reporters on his return from New Delhi.
Krishna, looking visibly upset over Nagappa's killing said, government was ready to
face the political fallout and said its primary concern now was to maintain law and
order.
Asked whether the parties which his government took into confidence at every stage
of the kidnap crisis was playing a "convenient political game", Krishna said he does
not want to blame any one, but added "we all owe an explanation to the people of the
state".
The government which launched an "aggressive assault" on the brigand was forced to
call it off after Opposition parties, mutt heads and Nagappa family demanded a halt
to it.
Reiterating that Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Centre had decided to end the eluding
run of Veerappan, he said the state's security advisor T Srinivasulu is rushing to
Coimbatore to meet Tamil Nadu STF commander, Walter Dawaram to step up joint
operations.
PTI
