CHENNAI, July 30: Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary incharge of Home Department N A Muthanna on Wednesday said there was no new proposal on the forest brigand Veerappan's demands for release of the nine Karnataka Forest personnel held by him since July 12.The appeal made to Veerappan by Chief Ministers M Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu) and J H Patel (Karnataka) in a joint press conference on Saturday to release the hostages first, was still there and there was ``no change in the situation''. Muthanna, who air-dashed to Chennai along with Karnataka deputy general of police T Srinivasalu, was talking to mediapersons at the Secretariat on Wednesday after holding discussions with Tamil Nadu chief secretary K A Nambiar and Home Secretary R Poornalingam. He said the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu officials were still holding consultations on what could be done within the purview of law for the release of the hostages in view of Veerappan's demands.The request made by government emissary and Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal on the two governments guaranteeing his safety as well as that of Veerappan to enable negotiations with Veerappan was also discussed.He also denied Gopal's statement that Karnataka Special Task Force (STF) personnel had entered the forests with sniffer dogs in search of Veerappan.
