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Journalism of Courage
CHENNAI, OCT 20: Worried over the delay in the release of film star Rajkumar from the captivity of forest brigand Veerappan, the actor’s three sons called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his residence here today and requested him to continue his efforts to secure the release of their father.
The three – Shiv Rajkumar, Punit Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar – later told reporters that they would also meet Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran and Nakheeran editor R R Gopal to seek their continued help in securing their father’s release.
The family was getting increasingly worried over the delay in Rajkumar’s release, they said.
"We are not bothered about who goes into the forest as emissary. We want our father back as soon as possible", they said, adding that several reasons, including the escape of Nagappa from the clutches of the bandit, were responsible for the delay in the matter.
Karunanidhi said, "I heard whatever they (the three) said and told them I will see what can be done".
Meanwhile, the Tamil Maanila Congress today said the nexus between forest brigand Veerappan and Tamil militant groups had "dangerous" overtones and would have serious repurcussions in the future.
Senior TMC leader and former Union Minister S R Balasubramaniam alleged at a press conference here that the NDA government at the Centre was keeping silent on the "disturbing tendency" as it wanted to derive political mileage out of the issue, since a Congress government was in place in Karnataka.
He demanded that the Centre direct the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to take effective steps to secure the release of Kannada actor Rajkumar, who had been in Veerappan’s captivity for the past 80 days.
The decision to send Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) leader P Nedumaran, known for his pro-LTTE leanings, as an emissary to secure Rajkumar’s release would only encourage anti-national forces in the state, he said and alleged that over 100 volunteers, who participated in the TNM conference in Madurai, had entered the forests to help Veerappan.
The Tamil Nadu government should bring out a "white paper" on efforts it had taken to secure the actor’s release, he said, adding that the Centre’s continued silence on the abduction issue was a "slur" on its face.
He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should not forget that his government was dismissed in 1990 only due to the LTTE links. The United Front government had lost power only because of some remarks against the DMK in the Jain Panel report, he added.
