The Hindu : Leaders mourn Nagappa's death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Leaders mourn Nagappa's death

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore Dec. 9. Several leaders and organisations have expressed their shock over the killing of the former minister and JD(U) leader, H. Nagappa, by the forest brigand, Veerappan, and have demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, who they held responsible for the tragedy.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, M.V. Venkatappa, in a statement, has condemned the killing as barbarous and said that in the death of Mr. Nagappa, who had served as the Minister of State for Agricultural Marketing in the J.H. Patel ministry, the State had lost a good politician.

The former Chief Minister, S.R. Bommai, has alleged that the State Government failed to conduct negotiations with the brigand for getting Mr. Nagappa released. He demanded the resignation of the Krishna ministry.

Sri Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Math has expressed anguish over the death of Mr. Nagappa and said the former minister was a very good person.

All had hoped that he would be released unharmed. The swami said it was natural for people to be unhappy over the incident, but they should remain calm under such circumstances.

The All-India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, in a resolution, has expressed sorrow over the tragic death of Mr. Nagappa. The senior vice-president of the mahasabha, Vishwanath Reddy Mudnal, presided over the meeting.

It said the efforts of the mahasabha, political parties, and organisations to get Mr. Nagappa released did not yield any result. It could not but express its unhappiness over the "half-hearted and last-minute efforts" of the Government, which was also responsible for the tragedy.

A group of nine legislators, including the leader of the JD(U) group in the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, have demanded the resignation of the Congress government, which had failed in protecting the life of Mr. Nagappa.

The other signatories to the demand are M.P. Nadagouda, H. Honnappa, S. Channabasaviah, B.T. Channabasappa, M.P. Prakash, K.V. Subba Reddy, H.S. Shivashankar, and Sachidanand Khoth.

Another group of JD(U) leaders including the former minister C.M. Udasi, have demanded a CBI inquiry into the abduction of the film actor, Rajkumar and Mr. Nagappa.

The Minister for Large- and Medium-scale Industries, R.V. Deshpande, who has mourned the death of Mr. Nagappa, said the Government had explored all possible ways to ensure his safe release, but destiny willed otherwise.

Mr. Deshpande and the Water Resources Minister, H.K. Patil, said Mr. Nagappa was a sincere and disciplined leader.

The Minister of State for Agro Processing, G. Raju Gowda, who is from Hanur, has said Mr. Nagappa was a soft-spoken and friendly person.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Reward hiked for nabbing bandit

An unexpected end to the hostage crisis

`Delay in negotiations led to tragedy'

Protest marches taken out in Bidar, Bijapur

Spontaneous bandh in Gulbarga Dt.

Beedi workers feel ignored by Centre, State

Leaders mourn Nagappa's death

There is nothing to gloat over State's HR record

Krishna govt. must resign: BJP