The Hindu : `CM should clarify Gopal's statement'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

`CM should clarify Gopal's statement'

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore April 24. A demand that the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, clarify whether his name figures in the inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption ordered by the Tamil Nadu Government into the alleged payment of ransom to the forest brigand, Veerappan, for the release of the Kannada matinee idol, Rajkumar, was made by the State unit of the BJP here today.

A clarification was necessary in the light of statement by R.R. Gopal, Editor of the Tamil biweekly, Nakkeeran, who was sent as emissary to the brigand to secure the release of Mr. Rajkumar, that his arrest under POTA by the Tamil Nadu Government was a prelude to action against the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, and Mr. Krishna, two BJP leaders said at a press conference.

The leaders, B.S. Yediyurappa and `Mukhyamantri' Chandru, MLCs, repeated the demand for a CBI inquiry into the death of the former minister and JD(U) leader, H. Nagappa, in view of the public feeling that Nagappa was killed because the Government failed to fulfil its assurance on payment of ransom, and that Nagappa might have revealed "facts" if he was released.

Mr. Yediyurappa criticised the Government for allegedly not taking action to protect the interests of lakhs of people from SCs, STs, and backward classes who had settled on forest land, and said it had given an undertaking before the Supreme Court that they would be evicted before the end of next month.

The Government had failed to accept an offer from the Centre to consider giving them relief if the State made a proposal. The State Government had also not filed a review plea in the Supreme Court, he added.

According to him, many farmers were being prevented by the forest authorities from entering the lands they were cultivating.

In view of this, the BJP proposed to hold a massive demonstration of affected people in front of the residence of the Chief Minister by this month-end, demanding allotment of alternative land to them.

Drought relief

Mr.Yediyurappa said that though the Centre had provided Rs. 250 crore under the Calamity Relief Fund and the National Calamity Contingency Fund, in addition to six lakh tonnes of rice, not even half of it had reached agricultural labourers and others engaged in drought relief work. The rice was being misused, he alleged.

He also alleged that desilting of tanks had not been well planned, and asked the Chief Minister to hold a video conference with deputy commissioners to discuss the matter, as officials were not conducting inspections. He demanded that the Government issue a White Paper on the funds received from the Centre and the amount released by the State.

Referring to the finances of the State, Mr. Yediyurappa said it was on the verge of bankruptcy, and payment due to contractors had not been made despite an assurance.

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