TN CM blames Karnataka Govts for Rajkumar abduction

CHENNAI, NOV 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today squarely blamed the failure of successive Karnataka Governments to releas...

CHENNAI, NOV 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today squarely blamed 8220;the failure of successive Karnataka Governments to release innocent Tamils8221; detained in the state under TADA, for the abduction of Kannada superstar Rajkumar by sandalwood smuggler Veerappan.

Replying to a three-hour discussion on an adjournment motion on the Rajkumar kidnap issue in the State Assembly, which was marred by a walkout by AIADMK, he said it was agreed in 1997 at a meeting between him and then Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel that the TADA detenus would be released.

But despite his repeated reminders, the Karnataka Government had refused to release the prisoners which had led to the present situation, Karunanidhi said.

Veerappan had made the release of these detenus as hismain demand for setting free Rajkumar, who was kidnapped by him on July 30, he said.

He also defended the choice of Tamil National MovementTNM Leader P Nedumaran as one of the emissaries to negotiate with Veerappan, saying Nedumaran8217;s TNM was not a banned one.

Quoting as precedent an instance in Andhra Pradesh whenadvocate Kannapiran, who appears for the naxalites, was sent to secure the release of some IAS officers abducted by ultras last year despite objection from police officers, Karunanidhi said it had become a well-known practice to 8216;remove a thorn through another thorn.8217;

Karunanidhi said he neither subscribed to the views ofdumaran, a LTTE sympathiser, nor justified them. But Dravidar Kazhagam Leader K Veeramani had been propagating the same views expressed by Nedumaran on the Sri Lankan issue.

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Veeramani had also raised funds to fight the case of theaccused in the Rajiv Gandhi assasination case as did by Nedumaran, he said.

Taking a dig at the opposition by referring to Veeramani8217;sproxmity to AIADMK Chief Supremo Jayalalitha and TMC President G K Moopanar, he said 8216;If you accept that whatever Veeramani is doing is right, what Nedumaran is doing is also right.8217;

On the TMC8217;s charge that money had changed hands forsecuring the release of Rajkumar, he said said if the Government wanted to free the actor by paying ransom, it would have done so long back. Not even a single paise changed hands, he asserted.

He also denied another TMC charge that fissiparous andseparatist tendencies were being encouraged in the state and said the DMK Government would tackle such elements with an iron hand.

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Karunanidhi said the DMK had given up its demand for aseparate 8216;Dravida Nadu8217; in 1952 itself and would be second to none in protecting and promoting National integration.

Dissatisfied with the Chief Minister8217;s reply, AIADMKmembers staged a walkout.

Notice for the adjournment motion was given by the entireopposition last week, but it was taken up only today due to Karunanidhi being pre-occupied with personal matters.