Bandit146;s hostage: Krishna

Why is it that a state government which is otherwise keen to show its proactive face in the fields of information technology and the new sci...

Why is it that a state government which is otherwise keen to show its proactive face in the fields of information technology and the new sciences, stumbles and falters at every step when it is exposed to the machinations of a forest bandit?

It speaks volumes for the quality of governance being offered by the administration of S.M. Krishna 8212; once rated as Number One among his fellow chief ministers 8212; when all it requires for the Karnataka government to wake up to the fate of Veerappan8217;s hostage, former minister Nagappa, is a meeting of top mutt seers.

And that, too, after almost three months of inactivity. Votebank politics of the dominant Lingayat community is what is at play here. Or else why would Krishna suddenly hold out an olive branch to the forest brigand asking him to surrender in return for a fair trial? And, three days later, why would the Karnataka government decide to give in to Veerappan8217;s demand and start the process of withdrawing cases against his chosen emissary, Tamil activist Kolathur Mani? Mani, who was picked by the state government after Rajkumar8217;s release and sent to jail, faces several charges, including one of supplying arms to Veerappan. Today, it is the same government that is working overtime to have him released so that he can act as emissary to help rescue Nagappa.

It is one thing to capitulate to the demands of Veerappan as a matter of strategy or to buy time. But when an inert government prefers to wait for the arrival of the bandit8217;s latest cassette of demands to be inspired into formulating a 8216;game plan8217;, it betrays a clear lack of responsibility 8212; and worse, nerve.

For, if the ultimate objective is to apprehend the bandit, the state government of Karnataka 8212; those of Tamil Nadu and Kerala must also share a part of that burden 8212; should have been more forthright and committed. Complicating matters further is the arrival of the controversial book, Veerappan8217;s Prize Catch: Rajkumar, written by former Karnataka DGP, C. Dinakar, who was at the helm of affairs during the earlier 108-day kidnap drama.

One of the most sensational revelations he makes is that a ransom of Rs 20 crore was paid to secure the actor8217;s release, thereby lending a touch of credibility to what was until now only speculation.

The Krishna government has, of course, chosen to ignore the book which, coupled with its latest stance of procrastination over the latest kidnap crisis, has given credence to the belief that it is pathetically on the defensive. Why is this the case? That is the one question that S.M. Krishna needs to answer. Precious time has been wasted. The need of the hour is to restore the credibility of the state government, and that can only happen with planned and effective action to capture Veerappan.