| Published on 01-04-2007 In National | | Viewed 2002 times | | Written by
Cho Ramaswamy | 
R Valayapathi, Thottakkurichi
Question: " If attacks on our fishermen continue, the Tamils' hands won't stop with fishing," says Chief Minister Karunanidhi in an open threat [aimed at the Sri Lankan government]. Comment.
Answer: Perhaps Karunanidhi vainly hopes that such oratory will result in Tamil fishermen holding aloft the DMK flag. In my opinion, fishing is a better vocation. The significance of such empty threats is lost on me. It is the job of the Government of India to ensure that our fishermen do not cross our maritime boundary and simultaneously prevent some of them from smuggling [armaments] for the benefit of the Tamil Tiger rebels. Further, it is also our government's duty to initiate appropriate steps to stop the island's navy and the LTTE from trespassing into our territorial waters.
MRS Raja, Thevoor
Question: Once upon a time, the DMK had led a huge protest against the Bofors scandal. Now the party is totally silent on the Quattrocchi affair. What is your take on this contradiction?
Answer: If I try to answer such embarrassing questions, it will result in Karunanidhi's irritated response demanding an attempt on my part to brave it out in front of the Howitzer firing squad. Why invite grief?
MRS Raja, Thevoor
Question: Just because Sonia Gandhi and Quattrocchi belong to the same country, she isn't required to comment on the affair about the Italian powerbroker, says the Congress. Comment.
Answer: Nobody has demanded an explanation from Sonia Gandhi simply because she was once the compatriot of Quattrocchi. Further, nobody even questioned the fact that the two behaved as though they belonged to the same family. The real issues today are [a] why did the Indian government tacitly allow the unfreezing of Quattrocchi's bank account in the UK and [b] the centre's silence for more than 10 days after the powerbroker being traced to Argentina. The people of India expect Sonia to explain her stand because [1] she is the leader of the Congress which leads the UPA arrangement that governs India, [2] she happens to be the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, one of the mainstays of the Bofors scandal and [3] she is the de facto prime minister.
K Balaraman, Coimbatore 38
Question: What do you think about Dr Ramadoss's comment that the DMK is behaving as though it has an absolute majority?
Answer: Jayalalithaa was raising Karunanidhi's hackles by terming his government repeatedly as "the minority regime." Now Ramadoss has started saying the same thing in different words. Jayalalithaa can be wished away with an adverse verse. But the CM has absolutely no clue as to how to react to the PMK leader's barb. So he has begun attempting to find solace by applying the 'balm' originating in Thailapuram.
GK Balakrishnan, Aathuppakkam
Question: Why do you think that the cement producers are ignoring Finance Minister Chidambaram's call to reduce their prices?
Answer: This is yet another instance of hunting with the hounds and running with the hares. The bond that cements the industrialists with the political establishment is stronger than their product.
K Ganeshan, Chennai 32
Question: "If Tamil Nadu and our Chief Minister wish to progress from the fourth to the first place, DMK partymen, ministers and bureaucrats need to provide a graft free, honest government," says Dr Ramadoss as a matter of advice to Karunanidhi. What do you make of this?
Answer: "If you really wish to go further in life, stop stealing!" If such a comment were made publicly to a thief, would he reform? It actually serves as an opportunity to the accuser to expose the wrongdoer. Karunanidhi is annoyed with Dr Ramadoss mainly due to this analogy.
M Serfuddin, Paramakkudi
Question: What is your reaction to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's removal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on charges of abuse of power and the stiff opposition to that amongst the legal fraternity in that country?
Answer: This judge ruled against the Pakistani government on matters of privatising that nation's public sector. Musharraf's critics have contended that Chaudhry's repeated rulings angered the President and that he exceeded his limits while dismissing the Chief Justice. In our country, when judicial pronouncements go against politicians, they are termed "purchased orders," [and the matter forgotten]. But it seems as though the political establishment in Pakistan can get even with judges who go against them by sacking them. The matter, however, is far from being relegated to mere memory. The dismissed judge seems to have mastered the art of keeping the issue alive by establishing his importance amongst the general public very much like a politician.
K Ganeshan, Chennai 32
Question: What does the queer case of the election of Moni Kumar Subba, who is allegedly a Nepali national convicted of murder in the Himalayan kingdom, as a Congress MP prove?
Answer: There is no authoritative version available about this issue.
On the basis of information made available till now, I can only say that we have too many loopholes in our electoral system which are causes for worry.
K Rajendran, Tiruchi 6
Question: The Australian cricket team, which is considered the strongest in the world, had lost 0-3 to New Zealand. The latter lost to Bangladesh, during one of the practice matches in the run-up to the World Cup. What does this go to show?
Answer: Nobody can exactly predict the outcome of a match – be it cricket or any other game. This much is known to everybody. But fanatics and commentators in every sport try to predict the results either because of their beliefs or as show-offs. New Zealand's loss to Bangladesh, in my opinion was purely accidental. Such occurrences are rare indeed.
H Tamilarasan, Mumbai 17
Question: "There is no link whatsoever between the arms smuggling in Tamil Nadu and the LTTE," aver Sri Lankan Tamil MPs. Comment.
Answer: The statements of supporters of the LTTE and their [so-called parliamentary] representatives cannot be believed.
Swaminathan, Dalmiyapuram
Question: Kindly comment on the attempt to assault Union Minister TR Baalu in parliament as a matter of opposition to establish a university of oceanography in Chennai.
Answer: The behaviour of CPM MPs from West Bengal in this matter is reprehensible. The leftists express fears about the decimation of democracy if BJP MPs indulge in slogan-shouting in Parliament. Now the communists have attempted to snatch a bill from a Union Minister and indulge in fisticuffs. This is indeed an uncivilised practice. However, the wrongdoers have realised their folly. CPM leader [Sitaram] Yechuri has already expressed regret.
V Sunder, Chennai 33
Question: What is your take on Dr Ramadoss's statement in which he has claimed that he can ensure the complete disappearance of spurious liquor if the Chief Minister orders the police department to function to act according to his [Ramadoss's] advice?
Answer: This amounts to saying, "the Chief Minister lacks administrative experience in these matters and even a greenhorn can perform better." No electoral ally [of the ruling DMK] can say it more bluntly.
S Usha Sudarshan, Tiruchengode
Question: What do you think of the income tax authorities' claim that Pune-based industrialist Hasan Ali has unaccounted assets worth more than Rs.30,000 crores?
Answer: In my opinion, this couldn't have taken place without the knowledge of the high and the mighty. If bigwigs are indeed involved, the scam will be slowly buried with lame excuses like country 'A' didn't provide evidence and we are exploring possibilities of obtaining information from nation 'B' and so on. That would be that.
S Usha Sudarshan, Tiruchengode
Question: Defence Minister AK Anthony has said that the threat of terrorists entering into our country from the sea-route is very much real. Comment.
Answer: Terrorists must have really lost their marbles. What is preventing them from taking the land route?
Shankar Kamalanathan, Chennai 69
Question: How do you react to the acquittal of [Union Railways Minister] Laloo Prasad Yadav in the disproportionate assets case, the central government's refusal to heed advice from the CBI to prefer an appeal in the Supreme Court and the claim of the Bihar government to pursue the matter if the CBI fails to do so?
Answer: While I am shocked by this apparent attempt by the central government to shield its ministers , the legal position of the Bihar regime in this matter is unclear.
Kalaingar Priya, Vellore (Namakkal)
Question: Is it true that the DMK will jettison the PMK from [the DPA] and accommodate the Congress in its cabinet to form a coalition ministry?
Answer: For the time being, it is just a rumour. When it becomes news, Tamil Nadu Congress MLAs will exchange blows.
Shankar Kamalanathan, Chennai 69
Question: "Those who insult the Speaker are belittling the house. If this continues, it will not take me half a minute to resign and quit the house," said Somnath Chatterjee while addressing BJP MPs in Parliament. Comment.
Answer: This resignation threat has become a matter of ridicule for a long time now. His statement is akin to a householder walking out of his dwelling after telling his wife that he is renouncing the world only to return in a few minutes to remind her that she should retrieve his lime container from the stable and keep it safely for his future use. Nobody is taking Chatterjee seriously. Communism had become a joke ages ago. But why should communists insist on morphing into jokers as well?
(Translated from Thuglak by TSV Hari)
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