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Emissaries haggle over Rajakumar release

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

With rival factions of government emissaries reportedly reaching a pact on claiming credit for ensuring Dr Rajakumar's freedom, the kidnapped Kannada matinee icon is expected to breathe free air on Tuesday.

According to an arrangement worked out between the emissaries, Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Pazha Nedumaran and two associates are to bring with them one of two hostages other than Rajakumar on Monday night, while Nakkeeran's R R Gopal, the original negotiator, will accompany Rajakumar and the other.

Nedumaran will get the honour of being the first to announce freedom for the hostages, while Gopal will actually accompany Rajakumar, according to sources.

Freedom for Rajakumar has been held back for 24 hours, mainly because of ego clashes between the two segments of negotiators, who went into the forests on the sixth leg of the peace mission.

Nakkeeran sources are said to be upset over Paranthaman, an aide of Nedumaran, announcing the imminent release of hostages on Sunday, while Gopal's office in Madras has always made earlier announcements.

Nakkeeran editors sought to play down the statement by Nedumaran's aide, by issuing a separate announcement on Monday, seeking to 'scotch' rumours. "Good news is expected on Monday evening," the Nakkeeran statement said.

Sources also spoke of 'undue publicity' Tamil separatist movements, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, would get in the international media if a freed Rajakumar accompanies Nedumaran, to the exclusion of Gopal and team. "Apart from the uncharitable nature of the act, given that Gopal prepared the ground for Rajakumar's negotiations, it would also set the tone for future politics of Tamil separatists," these sources said.

"This is an embarrassment the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments, as also the Centre, need to avoid."

Pan-Tamil sources, however, seek to justify Nedumaran's contributions to try and ensure freedom for Rajakumar. "We do not minimise Gopal's efforts, but the final, decisive contribution could be made only by Nedumaran and his associates," said the source.

But he did not deny the publicity accruing to pan-Tamil efforts, including that of the LTTE, by Nedumaran's name getting attached to Rajakumar's release. "If Nedumaran were to lead Rajakumar's freedom, there is nothing like that. However, even his heralding Rajakumar's return, as is being discussed, would make a difference."

This, other sources, said was the motive behind the TNLA allies of Veerappan wanting the pan-Tamil leader in the last leg of negotiations, given the fact that they do not rule out the possibility of police action by the two state governments once Rajakumar is freed. "The TNLA and TNRF require Nedumaran, to promote their ideology on the political front and to defend their cause, both in court and outside, given his expertise in leading the campaign for obtaining a Supreme Court reprieve for most assassins of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi."

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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