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From
Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 21, Dated 26 May 2012 |
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| CURRENT AFFAIRS |
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TAMIL POLITICS |
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Q&A: TKS Elangovan, DMK Spokesperson
‘Raja’s future depends on him coming out clean’
THE DMK’S move to spring back to relevance following its reversals in the state and Central politics seems to be coming to naught. On the day the party tried to hog the limelight by raking up the Ambedkar-cartoon issue, piggybacking on Dalit firebrand Thirumavalavan in Parliament, there were whispers of a typical DMK doublespeak. On another day, when it sought to ride high on A Raja’s release from jail, the nation woke up to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa’s largesse to her people, jacketing newspapers across the nation. DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan speaks to Sai Manish about the party’s predicament.
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TKS Elangovan, DMK Spokesperson
Photo: Shailendra Pandey |
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EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW
What do you make of J Jayalalithaa’s advertisement blitzkrieg?
It is a sad day. The nation woke up to a shameless propaganda designed to mislead the people. The advertisements are but a veil. They are a cover-up for the administrative failures of the Jayalalithaa government meant to divert public attention from the acute power shortage in the state. Prices of milk have gone up and bus fares too have increased. People across the state are suffering.
How do you interpret the coincidence: the advertisements came on a day when otherwise A Raja’s release on bail would have made it to the front pages?
Manipulations like this are a desperate attempt by Jayalalithaa to hide her felony. The chief minister herself is on bail in the disproportionate assets case. How many CMs in this country have this kind of a dubious record? This is a complete waste of public money. I am surprised, on the one hand Jayalalithaa asks for funds from the Centre and on the other, she gives no second thoughts before splurging taxpayers’ money.
A Raja is out on bail, but he can’t leave Delhi. What does his political future look like?
We have faith in the judicial system, and hope that the travel restrictions on A Raja will be eased in due time. There has been a lot of false propaganda but the truth will speak for itself. Raja continues to be the Propaganda Secretary of the party. However, if he is to be considered for larger roles within the party or for ministerial berths in future, then he should come clean in the cases against him. Only after the judiciary has acquitted him can a decision be taken on his future.
Why are you against the cartoons on BR Ambedkar in NCERT textbooks?
Cartoons are meant to be published in newspapers, not in school textbooks. There has to be a certain amount of seriousness in academics. Cartoons, like the one under dispute, sow seeds of cynicism and disrespect. Academics knowledge should make students think objectively. They should not trivialise historical milestones and offend the sensibilities of the oppressed classes.
But the DMK inserted Karunanidhi’s poem Semmozhi Vaazthu and hailed him as a literary persona of Tamil history in school textbooks. Isn’t that objectionable?
You cannot compare the two. The cartoon shows Jawaharlal Nehru whipping BR Ambedkar with people laughing in the background. We all know of Ambedkar’s contribution in making this country a place where Dalits and other subjugated classes could stake a claim to a dignified life. The delay in framing the Constitution was symbolic of the hard task of consolidating so many diverse interests. The cartoon, however, does not portray this. What academic purpose does this serve? The portions about Karunanidhi in history textbooks are based on facts that children need to know. He has done much to elevate Tamil as a classical language. Moreover, even those who do not subscribe to his politics read his poems. The content in Kalaignar’s poem is not offensive, and was introduced to make children aware of their language and culture.
Sai Manish is a Correspondent with Tehelka.
sai.manish@tehelka.com
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