Veerappan: TN to help only on request: Jaya

Making it clear to the Karnataka delegation that Tamil Nadu has no ‘‘active role to play’’ now in the operations against...

Making it clear to the Karnataka delegation that Tamil Nadu has no ‘‘active role to play’’ now in the operations against Veerappan, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today offered all assistance to secure the release of hostage H. Nagappa if Karnataka made a specific request.

The TN government also offered to reactivate the joint operations in Karnataka territory if it so desired, since they were discontinued only at the instance of the Karnataka government over a month ago, an official release said.

The Karnataka team, headed by Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge and Education Minister B.K. Chandrashekar, called on Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat to discuss the abduction of Nagappa by Veerappan 85 days ago.

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Describing the parleys as ‘‘cordial and fruitful’’, Kharge said that a strategy had been worked out to ensure the safe release of Nagappa and that further discussions would continue till he was released.

Jayalalithaa had promised to extend all cooperation in securing the release of Nagappa, Kharge said. He, however, refused to go into the details.