TIPS to search 200  million Web pages fast!

Karnataka film fraternity to go ahead with bandh

Journalist-emissary R R Gopal is expected to establish 'direct contact' with forest brigand Veerappan on Tuesday, even as the Kannada film industry rejected the Karnataka government's appeal to call off the September 28 state-wide bandh to protest the delay in securing the release of Kannada thespian Dr Rajakumar.

Gopal, on his fourth mission now, has established contact with Veerappan's men in the forests and was expected to begin negotiations with the bandit on Tuesday, Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge told reporters in Bangalore on Monday night.

As the film artists, including Dr Rajakumar's actor sons Shivarajakumar and Raghavendra Rajakumar continued their state-wide tour to canvass support for the bandh, Kharge renewed his appeal to them not to go ahead with it, that too when Gopal was expected to negotiate with Veerappan.

"Nothing should be done at this juncture which will have a bearing on the release of Dr Rajakumar," Kharge said but the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce was unmoved and said they would proceed with the bandh, called by the Dr Rajakumar Fans Association and fully supported by the Kannada film industry.

Chamber president K C N Chandrashekhar said they would even consider sitting outside the forests to secure the release of Dr Rajakumar who is in Veerappan's custody since July 30.

The film artists, meanwhile, took out a silent procession in Mysore, where leading Kannada actors, including Rajakumar's actor sons, made it clear that the bandh programme was very much on.

The bandh, Chandrashekhar said, would be peaceful and added that essential services, including hospitals and water supply, had been exempted.

Chandrashekhar said the film industry representatives would also meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on September 29 and submit a memorandum to him. He said they would also consider a 'Delhi chalo' programme to put pressure on the Centre to intervene but hastened to add that they did not want any commando operation to free the actor.

Some Kannada film actors have vowed that they will not shave their beards till Dr Rajakumar returns from the forests. Film production had come to a standstill in the wake of Dr Rajakumar's abduction on the night of July 30.

PTI

ALSO SEE
Gopal to enter forest on Monday or Tuesday: Karunanidhi

SPECIAL
'I aimed at his head and hit it with the first shot'

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report