Question: What is your reaction to the disfigurement of Periyar's statue in Muthuppettai and its consequence in Thanjavur where holy threads [worn by the devout] were snipped off?
Answer: Both are reprehensible criminal acts. Yet, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has condemned only the desecration of Periyar's icon. Indirectly, he has assured those who insult those who don holy threads that their actions will go unchallenged. [On that count, the DMK] government is parochial. Let alone punishing such crimes, it doesn't even want to condemn them. Such a regime cannot uphold the rule of law and accord protection to all sections of the society.
V Sunder, Chennai 33
Question: "Jaya TV is telecasting scurrilous news about Karunanidhi. If it continues to do so, we will kill Jayalalithaa [by exploding] a bomb," says a threat said to have come from the LTTE. Comment.
Answer: The question as to whether the threat really emanated from the LTTE or somebody else will be answered only after a proper investigation. However, after the issuance of such a threat, [the TN government] should not take it lightly. It is its duty to accord appropriate protection to Jayalalithaa.
Ampoorani S Narayanan, Palayamkottai
Question: BJP has nothing to be ashamed of in the bogus passport issue says LK Advani. Comment.
Answer: He is correct to the extent that the individual crime of an MP cannot be apportioned to entire political party to which he/she belongs.
But somebody or the other [belonging to the BJP] that claims to be different getting caught in wrongdoings at regular intervals is a matter for worry for the outfit.
AN Subramanian, Agraharam
Question: [The Tamil Nadu government] must secure an interim injunction against the [building of a] check dam on Palar, insists the Communist Party of India. Comment.
Answer: They certainly have done so in the Palar issue. However, can you expect them to do the same thing in Mullaperiyar legal tangle? They can't obviously do it because the leftists are in power in Kerala!
Umari P Ganeshan, Mumbai 37
Question: How will the entry of major business houses into retailing affect small traders?
Answer: I don't think that there will be any major effect. Due to the diversity of our people, their needs too are different which cannot be fulfilled by chain stores. Thus, smaller establishments certainly have a role to perform in the society. But, the entry of major business houses into this niche trade will bring about welcome changes in the approach of smaller traders towards their clientele and quality of goods sold by them.
LN Shiva Kumar, Chennai 33
Question: What is your take on an Australian scientist's advocacy to bury the dead because cremation increases the earth's temperature?
Answer: Global warning is caused by several industries or for that matter by cooking food. [How] do we stop doing these as well?
Question: I was shocked by The Hindu referring to the youth who shot dead 32 people in Virginia [Technical] University in the US simply as "Cho" in its abbreviated headline. Were you surprised as well?
Answer: The Hindu wasn't the only one which did it. Several other newspapers and television channels [in India] did the same. This was obviously due to the unpronounceable nature of the killer's name. There was no other ulterior motive behind this. The murderer triggered my name's figuring in the front pages for several days!
GK Balakrishnan, Gummidipoondi
Question: What do you think about Jayalalithaa's dramatic claim that the DMK government is trying to takeover Jaya TV?
Answer: I wouldn't be surprised if such an attempt takes place.
H Tamilarasan, Mumbai 17
Question: People from outside Tamil Nadu should be prevented from owning real estate in Chennai and its outskirts, says PMK founder Dr Ramadoss. Comment.
Answer: Perhaps he wants other state governments to nationalise properties owned by Tamils outside Tamil Nadu. Else, he wouldn't have made this statement.
Ampoorani S Narayanan, Palayamkottai
Question: Who was really benefited by the multiple-stage elections in UP. And who was badly affected? Answer: The effort [perhaps has] affected [the chances of victory of] Mulayam Singh's party because government machinery couldn't be misused during the elections.
R Mohan, Theni
Question: Some judges do not possess [an honest] conscience and an adequate knowledge of world history, says CPI leader Nallakkannu. Comment.
Answer: Let us presume for a moment that what Nallakkannu says is correct for the sake of argument. So what? Judgements aren't written on the basis of world history and social upheavals. Judges do so, on the basis of The Constitution, the principles of law and justice. On the flip side, how many of our legislators and ministers who have to function according to The Constitution really possess even a basic knowledge about it?
C Radhakrishnan, Chennai 41
Question: "There is no need for the government to grant subsidies to those who pay income tax," the Planning Commission has recommended to the central government. Comment.
Answer: Certain yardsticks have to be followed to reduce [the burden] of subsidies. In that context, income tax certainly can be one of them.
K Sampath, Thirukkazhukkundram
Question: A Tamil periodical has claimed that matinee idol Rajni Kant meets you often and is consulting you to start a political party. Comment.
Answer: I meet him fairly regularly, but to impute motives for such occurrences is utterly meaningless. I have seen no signs of his part to start a political party. And we have never discussed the matter.
KN Balakrishnan, Kumbhakonam 1
Question: The 2 acres of land allotted [to every landless peasant] by the government cannot be sold for 30 years, TN minister Periyasami has warned. Comment.
Answer: He has made a comment as if those lands have a ready market. Why fix a 30-year ceiling? The minister ought to have called them "unsaleable," period.
Lakshmi Narasimhan, Coimbatore 38
Question: Chief Minister Karunanidhi claims that Tamil Nadu is [as] peaceful [as a] park. Comment.
Answer: Who said that "peaceful parks" mean that they have to be really peaceful? This is akin to looking for [a certain Mr] Robinson in the park named after him. Both are named after extinct entities.
P Ram Murugan, Sivaganga
Question: "The air wing of the LTTE is a matter of pride for Tamils," says Vaiko. Comment.
Answer: Perhaps he is reminding all those who were thrilled about sandalwood [smuggler and] brigand Veerappan's possession of guns of yet another similar wonder!
M Thoosimuthu, Chennai 11
Question: What do reports indicating the sale of 20 tonnes of gold on the occasion of Akshaya Thritheeya show?
Answer: Devotion has served the cause of pelf.
M Serfuddin, Paramakudi
Question: What is your take on Jayalalithaa's statement to the press in Allahabad that 'the formation of a third national front is a certainty?'
Answer: If Mulayam Singh's party wins a majority in UP (or corners the largest number of seats) this will become a possibility. If the BJP does the same, its formation would be stymied. Even if other political parties succeed in creating it, its existence would be troubled. Jayalalithaa ought to have spoken about this after the election results.
KN Balakrishnan, Kumbhakonam 1
Question: "The accidental deaths of Village Administrative Officers were due to their diverting their vehicle to a temple. However, I will not demand compensation for them from God," Karunanidhi has been quoted as saying. Comment.
Answer: He is indeed correct. There is after all no law that demands that those attending DMK rallies and end up getting wounded during stampedes, worse die in them or in accidents to their vehicles should be compensated by the party.
M Ashok Raja, Aravakkurichippatti
Question: What do you think about the retirement of [ West Indies batsman] Lara from cricket?
Answer: In recent times, Lara, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest batsmen of all time, has lost his quick reflexes. Perhaps he wisely decided that "the time was ripe to quit the game" on that basis. But in the history of the game, several players have returned to the field after announcing their retirement. I would not be surprised if the West Indies cricketing establishment forces him to do the same thing.
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S Swaminathan, Mannargudi
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