| Published on 19-07-2007 In National |
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Written by
Cho Ramaswamy |
MP Ansari, Chennai 4
Question: The DMK regime is being strongly assailed by [PMK founder] Dr Ramadoss. Further there are serious cracks in the two parties' relationship. At this juncture, when asked about the possibility of the readmission of the PMK into the AIADMK-led opposition grouping, Jayalalithaa said that the question ought to be put to Dr Ramadoss as to whether he was prepared to do so. Comment.
Answer: This is an open invitation to [Dr] Ramadoss. I didn't expect it to be done in such a brazen manner.
V Kalyani, Maharaja Nagar
Question: What is your take on Condoleezza Rice's comment about the meaninglessness of the non-aligned group of nations and [Indian Defence Minister] Pranab Mukherjee's opposition to it?
Answer: I had expressed my views on this long back. Here is an excerpt from an editorial published in Thuglak dated 16th June 1998:
…The days of a Russian rump of nations opposed to the USA's client states are a thing of the past. In this context, the very term "non-aligned nations" is a misnomer…
GS Rajan, Chennai 42
Question: On the basis of its huge margin of victory in the Madurai by-elections, I have arrived at the conclusion that the Congress can indeed capture power in Tamil Nadu again. What do you think?
Answer: If the Congress [itself] starts believing in this, it would turn out into a huge advantage for Jayalalithaa.
M Thoosimuthu, Chennai 11
Question: The result of the by elections in Madurai is not the people's verdict. On the contrary, it is a pre-meditated conspiracy, says Jayalalithaa. Comment.
Answer: If she is advising other parties with this view, it can be termed politics. If she herself believes in this statement, it will be detrimental to her interests.
GK Balakrishnan, Gummidipoondi
Question: Can you recall any other presidential candidate against whom charges similar to those expressed against Sonia's nominee Pratibha Patil were made?
Answer: In all ways, Patil is unique. What is more, if the presidential immunity prevents her being prosecuted in future, that would be another historical occasion.
N Balu , Chennai 41
Question: How do you react to Indians being arrested for botched attempts to bomb London nightclubs and the Glasgow airport by the British police?
Answer: I only hope that our Central Government doesn't end up feeling elated by the discovery of a new export potential.
S Purushottama Rajan, Paramakudi
Question: When the Election Commission sought the courts' opinion about the modalities to proceed against Jayalalithaa in the matter concerning her having filed nominations in four constituencies, Karunanidhi went on record saying that answers to [certain] rudimentary questions have to be found first. Comment.
Answer: The relevant sections in the Representation of People's Act which are now in vogue weren't part of the statute when Jayalalithaa filed those nominations. Therefore, the Election Commission sought clarifications from the court. I do not see any anomaly in this at all.
K Ganeshan, Chennai 32
Question: How do you view newsmagazines making Azhagiri into some kind of a hero following the thumping victory of the Congress in the Madurai by elections?
Answer: All those periodicals that thought that the Maran brothers were unlikely to give in without a fight have now begun using the results as an instrument to compensate by singing paeans of Azhagiri.
GK Balakrishnan, Gummidipoondi
Question: Even MGR's exit from the DMK did not affect us. [Going by that yardstick] Dayanidhi Maran is nothing but dust, says MK Azhagiri. Comment.
Answer: Didn't MGR's exit affect the DMK? What about the fact that the effect resulting in the near drowning conditions of the DMK during the MGR wave that lasted 13 years? What is more, Karunanidhi himself begged the masses to extricate him from a 13-year exile. Azhagiri seems to have commented after forgetting old historical facts.
S Usha Sudarshan, Tiruchengode
Question: Though the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DGP proclaim that this is a haven of peace, we keep hearing that [left] extremists are roaming in the hills near Dindigul and that a former local DMK leader was killed by exploding an IED in Sivaganga. Which of these project the correct picture?
Answer: It is government policy to deny any wrongdoing despite heavy odds. During the Chikungunya epidemic, the DMK regime systematically claimed that it was false propaganda because the disease was "unknown" in Tamil Nadu. When the Tamil Tigers found it easy to operate here, the government denied it strongly. On similar lines, the CM claims that we are leading peaceful lives. If the emergence of a problem is dangerous, the government's denying its existence is a catastrophe.
Sinthanai Selvan, Srivaikuntam 1
Question: Do you think that the AIADMK and DMDK will join hands during the 2009 parliamentary elections?
Answer: I do not know about that possibility. But if it does happen, the two parties will realise that it is beneficial to both of them.
S Rajagopalan , Chennai 17
Question: Can one term the Congress victory during the by elections in Madurai as a triumph of the freebies' policy of the DMK?
Answer: If one is ready to accept the fact that the DMK is being backed by a set of parties on a "free" basis, naturally, it is a victory of the freebies' policy. Parties support this regime without getting a fair share of power, so the arrangement can itself be termed as a "free" experiment. Therefore, the victory in Madurai has been achieved by this [collective] freedom.
N Shanmugam, Tiruvannamalai
Question: Azhagiri is going from strength to strength in the DMK. Comment
Answer: So what? Did I call him a rowdy and undertake a vow to get him arrested? Why should I be afraid of the fact that his power base is increasing? Unfortunately, you have sent a question that ought to have been sent to Dinakaran to Thuglak!
K Radhakrishnan, Karaikudi
Question: It is obvious that the DMK regime is in no danger even if the PMK withdraws support. They why is Karunanidhi allowing himself to be criticised repeatedly by Dr Ramadoss? Is there any other hidden reason?
Answer: It is true that the government may not be toppled, but the opposition's volubility will increase. AIADMK will have slightly improved chances. In such circumstances, the DMK will have to share power to keep its flock together. This in turn will augment the strength of the coalition partners – a situation opposed by Karunanidhi like poison. But even his "grin and bear it" syndrome has its limits.
(Translated from Thuglak by TSV Hari)
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