The Hindu : Forces will pursue Veerappan: Kharge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Forces will pursue Veerappan: Kharge

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Oct. 25. The Karnataka Home Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, has said that there is no let-up in the operations to track down the forest brigand, Veerappan, and appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the Tamil Nadu police in the effort.

Participating in a "Meet-the-press'' programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the Bangalore Reporters Guild here today, he said the Government had not received any information pertaining to the report that the forest brigand was willing to surrender. If there was any evidence of such a proposal, the Government would seriously examine it. However, clear directions had been issued to police to either nab or kill Veerappan.

Mr. Kharge said the Home Ministry reviewed the combing operations regularly. Efforts were being made to apprehend the forest brigand though no timeframe could be set. Veerappan had been committing crimes in the past two decades, the Congress Government alone was not to blame for the failure to catch him.

He said the Union Government had offered assistance to the State, including supply of firearms and other equipment, to nab the forest brigand. However, as the Central forces were engaged in various other anti-insurgency and anti-terrorist operations, the Union Home Ministry had said if Veerappan was spotted by the State police, the Central forces would be immediately rushed here.

The Ministry had appreciated the general performance of the State Government, and the Centre had approved a Rs. 750-crore police modernisation scheme, Mr. Kharge said. This was being implemented with equal contribution (Rs. 375 crore each) from the Union and State governments. So far, Rs. 468 crores had been released and Rs. 411 crores utilised.

Apart from the improvements made in the police communication network and mobility, funds were being utilised to construct police quarters. As many as 6,600 houses were ready, and nearly 5,000 houses had been approved for construction in the second phase of the programme. All police stations were also being computerised, he said.

On the law and order situation with particular reference to Bangalore, the Home Minister said there were neither communal clashes nor police firing in the past four years except one at Vitlenahalli during the "neera agitation." That foreign investors were keen on investing in Bangalore was adequate reflection of the good situation prevailing in the State.

On the role of the local police and revenue officials in the stamp paper racket, he said the special investigation team (SIT) was looking into all aspects of the racket and would take action based on evidence.

On the performance of the Government, Mr. Kharge said: "By and large we have kept the promises made to the people.'' It had implemented many schemes for farmers, the rural poor, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Nearly 20,000 backlog vacancies had been identified, and about 15,000 vacancies were being filled.

The Rs. 350-crore midday meal scheme for schoolchildren had been received well, and attendance in schools had vastly improved. The other novel schemes that had received a good response were the Yashasvini scheme, which offered hi-tech health facilities for the rural people, and the Stree Shakti scheme, which gave financial security to women.

The Government had established the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam, the Cauvery Nigam, and the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam to improve irrigation.

Asked whether he was in the race for the leadership of the Congress in the State, Mr. Kharge said selecting the leader was the prerogative of the party High Command, and he was ready to serve in any position. "Our leader is the party president, Sonia Gandhi, and whoever she appoints as the captain will lead the party's election campaign in the next Legislative Assembly elections.''

The Minister refused to comment on the statement of the Urban Development Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, that the recent statements of the Congress leader, C.K. Jaffer Sharief, were aimed at snubbing him (Mr. Kharge).

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