By: K. Gautam
The unabashed one-upmanship by the TN government declaring a bandh (declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court) and its brazen support by the CPI-M have left the common man of the state inconvenienced. But who cares? On one hand, the TN government wants to score a political point over the Sethu Project citing the people’s welfare. On the other hand, the BJP and the AIADMK (they had filed the petition in the SC) want to garner as many brownies as they possibly can out of this issue. Added to that is the open endorsement of the bandh by the UPA, who doesn’t seem to have a choice but to support the DMK, which is a key ally.
Where is the Governor?
Amidst all this, there is no word from the Governor of Tamil Nadu on the issue. I am beginning to wonder whether Tamil Nadu has a Governor. If I have not erred, Surjit Singh Barnala is the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who assumed office in 2004. Mr. Barnala is a former Chief Minister of Punjab, and had served as TN Governor from 1990 to 1991. At that time, he had refused to dismiss the Karunanidhi Government over the LTTE issue, which was subsequently dismissed by the Chandrasekhar government. The Governor is duty bound to advice the government and take it in the right path or at least make an attempt at it.
Who is bothered?
Though the TN government claims that it has abided by the SC directive of not enforcing the bandh, the damage had already been done. Most people fearing a backlash didn’t venture out of their homes and most shops remained closed. Very few buses, autos, and taxis were on the streets in the state. The TN government has thus taken the people’s livelihoods to ransom. But who is bothered about the people? Nobody is.
Whatever the cause, a bandh should be the very last option. A responsible government leaves no stone unturned before having to resort to such a measure.
The DMK and its allies have criticized the SC for going overboard over the bandh. Though it is true that the SC has never intervened in a state called bandh, it is time that they did. They cannot let any one party act according to their whims and fancies, depriving the people of their right to work and earn.
Unjustified Comparison
Further, some of the leaders of the DMK and its allies have compared the bandh and the subsequent hunger strike by Mr. Karunanidhi to Mahatma Gandhi’s during the freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader of the masses, who had their support right from the time he jumped into the political array in India. He was also a hero of the apartheid movement in South Africa. These people are kidding themselves and everyone by comparing a great man to one of the lesser politicians, the tons we seem to have in this country.
I think what you have mentioned is perfect in terms of your intention. Your comment reflects you are very emotional about bandh. I accept it affects the livelihood of common man but I respect the way they conducted the bandh with out any violence. Just because some people in the North want to earn a political mileage they cannot stop a development project, which will bring prosperity to the most underdeveloped districts of this state. I condemn it vehemently if a development project is stopped in the name of Religion.
ReplyDeleteYou have forgotten to mention the way in which Supreme Court reacted to it? Which is more pathetic. The judges has reacted to the situation childishly asking for Presidents rule
If the non-implementation of Supreme Court order would result in president’s rule? What about the Karnataka and Kerala? If the judiciary also start to give knee jerk reaction to the situation then we the citizen of this country are in for a real struggle.