Nagappa’s escape a setback, says Karunanidhi

The Chief Minister said Gopal had returned so that he could resume talks with Veerappan at a later date after his anger over Nagappa’s escape subsides.

Karunanidhi said Tamil Desiya Iyakkam leader P. Nedumaran had told him about the cassette sent by Veerappan, and that he came to know of its contents through newspapers. “Veerappan has placed the same old demands,” he added.

Karunanidhi denied that Veerappan had lost confidence in Gopal, which was why he had sent the message through Nedumaran.

He said he could not speak to Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna on the issue since the latter was away in Mumbai.

Krishna has, meanwhile, convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday to decide on the course of action regarding the hostage crisis. It is believed that the meeting is being held in view of Gopal’s failure to secure Dr Rajkumar’s release.

Addressing the media after a meeting in Bangalore today, Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge said Karnataka government could decide on a new strategy only after consulting leaders of all parties, including MPs from the state. Kharge said Krishna had spoken to Karunanidhi immediately after returning from Mumbai. He declined to comment on Karunanidhi’s remarks that Nagappa’s escape was a setback in securing the release of the hostages.

In another development, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and state Samata Party president V. Sreenivasa Prasad has said the Centre would extend help to secure the release of Dr Rajkumar “if the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments want it to intervene”.

“Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was quite hopeful of Rajkumar’s release when Gopal ventured into the forests the fourth time. But now it is a different situation and we have to handle it carefully.” Prasad told newspersons, adding he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister Krishna.