Kannada film fraternity protest Dr Rajkumar’s abduction
The entire Kannada film industry with fan’s association took a silent procession recently to protest the delay in the release of Kannada icon Dr Rajkumar from the clutches of forest outlaw Veerappan.

Almost 20,000 people gathered at Banappa Park on Kempe Gowda Road and proceeded to the Governor of Karnataka, VS Rama Devi’s home office at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum. KCN Chandrasekhar, president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Sa Ra Govindu, president of Dr Rajkumar Abimanigala Sangha, star-turned-Members of Parliament, Raghavendra and Puneet, senior actors Vishnuvardhan, Ravichandran, Shruthi, Jayanthi, Thara, Hema Chaudhary, Prema, Soundarya and number of artistes, technicians, producers and directors of the Kannada film industry took a three kilometer procession to express their solidarity.

In the absence of Governor Rama Devi, her secretary received the memorandum submitted by the Kannada industry. Soon after the procession, there were minor incidents in some parts of the city.

Family to go on hunger strike
The thespian’s sons also propose to go on a hunger strike to protest the laxity in the state’s handling of the abduction case.

Says a furious Shiv Rajkumar, “At the age of 73, Appaji is finding it extremely difficult to survive in the deep jungles. Let those in the government spend a day in the jungle, and they’d realise how difficult it must be for Appaji. When Mufti Mohammed Sayed’s daughter was kidnapped, and the Indian Airlines plane was hijacked, the union government released international criminals without bothering about the laws. Why are they now keeping silent, when the devatha manushya, my Appaji has been kidnapped by a bandit?”

In an emotional outburst, Shiv’s brother, Raghavendra Rajkumar added, “We want our father back. If Veerappan wants, let him kidnap me and my brothers, but let him release Appaji. We cannot wait for the Supreme Court verdict on TADA hearings. Appaji’s release should be secured immediately.”

Ambarish to lead team to New Delhi
Ambarish, popular star-turned-Member of Parliament, is to lead a 28 member MP team to New Delhi to protest against the delay in release of Dr Rajkumar from the clutches of Veerappan. “The delay is distressing for the Karnataka State. Everyone is exhausted now,” informed Ambarish adding that it is high time that the Prime Minister and President of India are appraised of the situation. The date of MP’s visit to Delhi will be shortly announced.
Vasishta