NEW DELHI, Nov 30 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani today said, “The Centre is willing to give the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments assistance of the Defence and the Home ministries to nab forest brigand Veerappan”.

Replying to a calling attention motion in Rajya Sabha on the activities of the LTTE in India and the action taken by the government in this regard, Mr Advani said he had taken note of the demand that National Security Guard commandos be sent to nab Veerappan. “The question of NSG was raised by both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I can only say that whatever needs to be done will be done and there will be no reservation on it.”

The Home Minister reiterated that the government is willing to offer all help needed to deal with a menace of this kind. He said the abduction of Kannada film icon Rajkumar had certainly affected the image of the country. “I am aware of the fact that whatever has happened in Tamil Nadu in the past two months has disturbed the whole country. We are conscious of the fact that it is not merely a law and order problem.

Mr Advani assured the House that the government would pursue the demand for declaring the pro-LTTE Tamil National Liberation Army and Tamil Nadu Retrieval Force as unlawful organisations. “The inclination and sympathies of these two organisations are well known. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act makes it imperative for the Central Government to have ample evidence in hand to face scrutiny by a judicial tribunal. In case of these two organisations, I will pursue the matter.”

He said the government is pursuing with the Sri Lankan Government the extradition of LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, the prime accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Replying to a clarification sought by members on the large scale birthday celebrations of Prabhakaran in the state, Mr Advani said, “the police has made arrests in Cuddalore, Thanjavur and Virudhnagar and registered three cases in Chennai. Regarding the building where the function was supposed to be organised, I’m told that it was a function to facilitate Tamil National movement leader P. Nedumaran for the release of Rajkumar. It was not a function to celebrate the birthday of Prabhakaran.”

During the discussion, members requested the Home Minister to send NSG to the forest to nab Veerappan and take steps against the forest brigand.