Karnataka plays down TN rebuke on Rajkumar

Karnataka plays down TN rebuke on Rajkumar
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BANGALORE, SEPT 21: The Karnataka government today played down Tamil Nadu's affidavit in the Supreme Court blaming its neighbour for not informing about Rajkumar's visit to Gajanur, from where he was kidnapped by Veerappan.

State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister D.B. Chandre Gowda said that the Tamil Nadu government had neither betrayed nor gone back on its words. He maintained that Karunanidhi's government was not shying away from sharing the responsibility of securing the Kannada icon's release.

In its affidavit before the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government hadsaid:``About a year ago, from source information it was learnt that Veerappan might attempt to kidnap Rajkumar.''

``This information was shared with Karnataka Police, which had requested Tamil Nadu Police that adequate security arrangements may be provided to Rajkumar, whenever he visited Tamil Nadu,'' the affidavit, filed by the Deputy Secretary in the Home Department of the state, A S Dhamaraj, had said.

Chandre Gowda refused to react to the affidavit. He said the actual issue before the court was the validity of the governments' move to drop TADA charges against 121 detainees suspected to be associates of the bandit.

The Minister said that any comment on the controversy would mean sub-judice. He assured that senior advocates appearing on behalf of the State would examine the affidavit and take appropriate action. He said that both the governments have been working together but were ``bogged down in legal complications''.

Chandre Gowda said emissary R.R. Gopal had entered the forest for the fourth time to hold negotiations with Veerappan. He said the Supreme Court had indicated that the final hearing of the case covering the 86 writ petitions and appeals would be held from October 11.

Asked whether Chief Minister S.M. Krishna met Prime Minister Vajpayee and Home Minister Advani in Delhi and sought the Centre's help, the Law Minister said the Union Government won't be approached for now.

Meanwhile, a PTI report said that Bangalore witnessed incidents of stone-throwing after rumours spread about the health of Rajkumar's wife Parvathamma. People came out on the streets in Gandhinagar and pelted stones on vehicles soon after a silent procession by the Kannada film industry. Police said shopkeepers closed their shops in panic.

Parvathamma was admitted to a private hospital yesterday after she complained of chest pain. Her personal physician, Ramana Rao, said she was recovering. Newspapers and media organisations were flooded with enquiries about her condition.