How Nedumaran stole the thunder from Gopal

Missing in the finale was Government emissary and Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal. On July 31, after the brigand kidnapped the actor, Gopal was everyone’s natural choice for negotiator. In 1997, he had successfully secured the release of seven Karnataka forest officials from Veerappan’s clutches. Also, earlier, Gopal’s Nakkeeran, through video clippings, had shown Veerappan to the world.

Between August and October, Gopal made five exhausting forays into Veerappan’s lair to secure Rajkumar’s release. But this time he stayed back, saying he was waiting for a signal from Veerappan. What Gopal didn’t say was that Nedumaran and the Tamil nationalists had stolen the thunder from him. In fact, the meltdown began the day the story was out that the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Tamil Nadu Retrieval Troops (TNRT) were in cahoots with Veerappan.

After four rounds of talks with Gopal, Veerappan and his associates, in a cassette, asked the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments to send Nedumaran, Prof Kalyani and G Sukumaran — both human rights activists — for further negotiations. Though the brigand said nothing against Gopal, he made it clear that the Nakeeran

editor was “the two State Governments’ choice”. Now he wanted his.

Apparently, the kidnappers preferred someone “who could empathise with them, if not support them”. And the Tamil nationalist plank worked perfectly.

Nedumaran, is an unequivocal supporter of the LTTE, and close to Thampi (younger brother) V Prabhakaran; a photograph of a smiling Nedumaran posing with Prabhakaran is a major attraction for visitors to Nedumaran’s office. Nedumaran also commands considerable respect among Tamil nationalists of all hue: in those circles he is addressed as Ayya. Prof Kalyani and G Sukumaran may have a fine track record of fighting against human rights violations, but they are also well-known supporters of Tamil nationalism.

In an interview published in Nakkeeran when the fifth mission was planned, Nedumaran said he was going to the forests to help Gopal. What neither said later was that there was little co-ordination between them during this mission.

Now sample this: On Saturday last, before embarking on the final mission, Nedumaran said, “(Veerappan’s) signal is not necessary to enter the forests. We are very optimistic about Rajkumar’s release this time.” But Gopal, till Tuesday evening — when Nedumaran and the other emissaries had already started the final round of talks with Veerappan in Satyamangalam — kept saying, “We are waiting for a signal.”

Also sample this: When a scribe asked Nedumaran whether he was going along with Gopal, he said, “I am going in my car and Gopal will come in his car since all of us cannot travel in one car.”

Today, hours after after the Rajkumar drama ended, there was no reaction from Gopal.