New Delhi: Asserting in Lok Sabha that Janata Dal - United (JD-U) leader H Nagappa
must be the 'last victim' of Veerappan, the Central government on December 9
suggested constituting a joint front by the Centre and state governments of
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to nab the elusive forest brigand.
Sharing members' concern over Nagappa's killing, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Pramod Mahajan assured the House that the Centre was prepared to provide Army,
National Security Guards and other paramilitary forces and helicopters to put an end
to the terror unleashed by Veerappan.
"Efforts should be made to set up a joint front consisting of the Centre and state
governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to get the forest brigand," he said, adding
there were difficulties as a result of which Veerappan was out of reach of the
police.
"The Centre will not lag behind in providing all help to the state governments and I
hope Nagappa will be his last victim and now Veerappan will himself be a victim,"
Mahajan said, remarking "bringing the forest brigand to book will be a real tribute
to Nagappa".
Soon after the issue was raised during Zero Hour by former Prime Minister H D Deve
Gowda, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief chip Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Karnataka
Chief Minister S M Krishna was "responsible for Nagappa's killing" as he did not
make "serious efforts" to get the abducted leader released and sought his
resignation amid strong protests from Congress benches.
JD (U) member H Javare Gowda briefly raised the matter in Rajya Sabha.
PTI
