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"THERE
IS ALSO THE PHOOLAN DEVI APPROACH"
By
INDIA TODAY'S Principal
Correspondent Stephen David
The abduction
of Kannada star Rajkumar by Veerappan has put Karnataka Chief Minister
S.M. Krishna in an unenviable spot.
He spoke to India Today Principal Correspondent Stephen David on
how his Government was handling the crisis. Excerpts:
Q:
Do you think the release of TADA detenues is a reasonable demand?
A: Well, the Union External Affairs Minister took jailed militants
with him to resolve the Kandahar hijack crisis. One union minister forced
militants to be released to secure his daughter. Rajkumar is an icon in
Karnataka and we have to pay a small price to secure his release.
Q:
Do you see an early solution to the crisis?
A: We have sent a 450-page document to show that we have positively
responded to Veerappan's demands through emissary (Nakkeeran editor) R.
Gopal. The case before the TADA court is also proceeding smoothly. The
Government which framed charges can also withdraw them so that's what
we are doing and the crisis will blow over soon. Gopal told me that this
time he will come back from the jungles with Rajkumar.
Q.
What are the options available?
A. There are many options. We can launch an operation later. We
can go in for tripartite talks, get the Centre to draw both states to
talk with each other to jointly resolve the problem. There is also the
Phoolan Devi approach. May be Veerappan should be given a chance to reform.
Give him a chance and see how he fits in with society.
Q.
How difficult has it been for you to make decisions in the past few days?
A. The enormity of the problem is that there are so many risks
involved.
Q.
How has Rajkumar's family taken the kidnap?
A. I must say that they have been very understanding. They understand
my limitations too.
Q.
What about the attitude of Tamil Nadu and its Chief Minister? A.
At the outset I must point out that Mr Karunanidhi was extremely helpful.
We have had useful discussions. He speaks English and we conversed in
English and he has assured me that Rajkumar will return home safe. He
is very understanding.
Q.
It is said that you were so busy with task forces when you formed the
Government that the real Task Force to arrest Veerappan was forgotten
...
A. The kind of task forces I created were development-oriented,
but the Special Task Force came into existence years back (1990) to arrest
Veerappan. Perhaps, because of the lull on the Veerappan front in the
past three months, the state Government machinery too had become complacent.
The same could have happened to any other government.
Q.
Some internal reports say that the STF should be wound up ...
A. There are so many reports and I am studying all of them. There
is the (former STF commander) Arkesh report, the (current STF commander)
Harshvardhan Raju report and the (former Karnataka chief secretary) Prabhakar
report. Reports are there, all these reports have created more confusion
than clarity.
Q.
How is the Central Government reacting to the crisis?
A. There is some Central involvement. We have kept the Government
of India informed about the various developments on this front. The Government
is listening to us.
Q.
Are you planning to get the Centre to deploy a commando force to help
catch Veerappan?
A. Right now my whole effort, time and energy is directed to get
Rajkumar back. I would venture into other things or plans only after that.
Q.
There are fears of a backlash against Tamils once Rajkumar is released?
A. I would like to make an assurance that every Tamilan in my
state will be protected. For the act of one person, you cannot hold a
community to ransom. Tamilans are honest and law-abiding and they have
been living like that on our soil. So I will tell every Kannadiga to look
at a Tamilan from the point of view of an average Tamilan who is basically
a well-meaning, law abiding man who loves Karnataka. I will not tolerate
any harm to these members and I am sure the Kannadigas will be happy once
Rajkumar is back.
Q.
How excited are you about Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's August
21 visit to Bangalore?
A. That will be a very good thing for Bangalore. He is definitely
coming and we are looking forward to it. We are delighted he is coming
to Bangalore first and then going to Delhi. He will visit two software
companies in Bangalore, Infosys and Wipro. Bangalore continues to be the
hot destination when it comes to software.
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