R Karnan, Peththarangapuram Question: How different is the DMK regime\’s handling the police when compared to that of the earlier Jayalalithaa government? Answer: Policemen believed that they had some powers because of the treatment they got from the Jayalalithaa regime. At present, the cops are under the impression that rowdies think that it is their government. V Paramasivam, Chennai 25 Question: What is your take on the broad criticism that the central government has ignored the inputs from the CPM? Answer: Praise should not be
Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy
March 30, 2007
The angry, majestic aside
March 30, 2007\”The only way to prevent corruption in the nation is to hang those who are corrupt from [the nearest] lamp post….The law does not permit us to do that. Else, we would prefer to hang corrupt people like you from a lamp post. Only then would the others develop a fear and avoid indulging in such practices..\” The above was the opinion of a judge of the Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju. The pronouncement came during the hearing of a bail application filed by an accused in the Rs.1,000 crore [Bihar] fodder scam.
When piffle replaces perspicacity
March 30, 2007\”Aam Aadmi [common man]!\” I do not know whether the above slogan was useful to the Congress during the last parliamentary elections. But, the fourth estate and television channels made a song and dance about this entity. The brouhaha is yet to die down. I do not know as to what kind of a victory the phrase achieved for the Congress. But the media\’s preoccupation with it resulted in its being turned into some kind of magic mantra. Finally, the Union Finance minister referred to this imaginary person in his budget. Perhaps
Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy
March 30, 2007K Balaraman, Coimbatore 38 Question: \”Most political parties do not wish to call for a \’Bandh\’ and waste a whole day,\” says Karunanidhi. Comment. Answer: A \”Bandh\” has no known productive uses. This game of one-upmanship of political parties only results in annoying people and increases antagonistic tendencies. Therefore, if what the CM says is true, it is a welcome development. KS Goverdanan, Chennai 42 Question: Do you think that the government of India is correct in maintaining a silence for 17 days on the issue
Don\’t insult the donkey!
March 30, 2007Mottled with rage, a Chief Minister has perpetrated injustice. These words sum up the recent series of incidents in Andhra Pradesh. Ramoji Rao is a media baron who owns a [Telugu] newspaper Eenadu and a bouquet of television channels. He had aided the political avatar of former [and late] Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao immensely. Further, Ramoji had contributed a lot to the political fortunes of Telugu Desam leader N Chandrababu Naidu through the media. Naturally, Ramoji Rao proved to be a headache for the present Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,
Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy
March 30, 2007K Radhakrishnan, Karaikudi Question: What is your take on Pakistani newspapers alleging that Hindu rightwing extremists were responsible for the bombing of Samjhauta Express? Answer: Pakistan\’s disinformation doesn\’t surprise me. But the pseudo-secularists\’ buying this lemon is a mystery. S Venkata Narayanan, Aattuppannai Question: What do you read in the DMK spokesman\’s opinion in connection with the clamour for UP government\’s dismissal being refuted by the party? Answer: He has gone on record saying that the UP government should not be dismissed and
To err is human…
March 6, 2007Those who express comments without getting their facts right ought to tender an unconditional apology when the correct position becomes apparent. We are doing just that because we have understood the error of our words. \”Some judges are behaving as though they have descended from heaven. They have no right to criticise the government. Judges do not have more powers than the Chief Minister. The [High Court] judges\’ assumption that they can rule Tamil Nadu is wrong,\” thundered [Tamil Nadu Electricity] Minister Arcot Veeraswamy. We had presumed that his diatribe [against the
Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy
March 6, 2007Padmini Balaraman, Coimbatore 38 Question: What is the origin of rationalism and what is its end? Answer: Origin: Anti-Brahmanism; end: amassment of wealth. Malligai Kannan, Madurai 17 Question: Poet laureate Kannadasan and the [late] MGR turned into theists towards the end of their lives. For the present it looks as though Karunanidhi might follow their footsteps. Comment. Answer: Kannadasan had the moral courage of renouncing atheism publicly. MGR had it to some extent. Karunanidhi doesn\’t possess that quality at all. Therefore, even if he
Absolute power will render laws meaningless
February 26, 2007It is obvious that the intoxication of absolute power is steadily taking control of the cerebrum of the ruling party. It has forced the opposition parties on the back foot by initiating innumerable litigations; threatened journalists by referring to them by their castes; chased away voters by indulging in rowdyism; put the fear of unknown into several with the threat of nationalisation; public meetings were hindered by using the pliant police… And the latest attack has been on the judiciary. Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy had launched a vile diatribe against judges during
Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy
February 26, 2007KGS Govindan, Krishnapuram Question: Ten IAS officers were appointed to oversee Chennai Corporation elections. Do you think that they ensured that free and fair polls were conducted? Answer: Their appointment was only an attempt to get one more certificate praising the government. T Ramakrishnan, Leepuram Question: Which political party, in your opinion, has been affected by the growth of DMDK? Answer: For the time being, it has affected the AIADMK mainly due to Jayalalithaa\’s decision to keep away from the Chennai Corporation polls.
RamasamyC 