AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

        The now fast catching trend among some politicians of attributing casteist and communal motives to all issues involving high profile individuals holding public offices is a matter of serious concern which could only help disturb the social fabric.

        In a statement here, former Member of Parliament and founder leader of Veera Vanniar Peravai, S Jagatratchagan has said State Election Commission (SEC) chief Chandrashekaran is being 'targeted' by opposition parties only because he is from a backward community — the Vanniyars.

        The former parliamentarian has also warned that crores of Vanniyars in Tamilnadu would come to streets in protest if Chandrasekharan was shifted from his post.
 

        While only a political naïveté would fail to miss the desperation of Jagatratchagan in not being able to get into the political limelight despite strenuous efforts over the past few years, what is more worrying is the trend to bring in the caste factor even in matters which are purely apolitical and legal.

        The SEC chief has been indicted by the Madras High Court in unambiguous terms for the large scale irregularities, bogus voting and the violence. The main opposition AIADMK and some others are demanding the shifting of Chandrasekharan only in his capacity as boss of the State election commission and his failure to prevent the electoral malpractices.

        The mindset of the ilk of Vanniar Peravai founder in trying to ascend high political offices by the sinister use of caste card would have far reaching consequences besides polarising people on casteist lines, social activists fear.

        In a related development, PMK leader Ramadoss in a statement here has said President APJ Abdul Kalam was criticised by the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackarey 'only because he was a Tamil and a member of a minority community.'

        The fact remains that Thackarey crossed limits of decency and illogically dragged the first citizen into the Afzal guru mercy petition issue out of sheer frustration.

        The Shiv Sena supremo could have made an open appeal or might have presented a memorandum urging quick decision. By distasteful bashing he has only done harm to the cause he espoused.

        But what is disturbing is the attitude of the PMK leader in choosing to describe the behaviour of Bal Thackarey as motivated by 'racist bias.'

        Though Ramadoss knows that it was not just the fact as far as this incident goes, still he chose to hurl that abuse only to further his political interests and emerge as the 'darling of the pan-Tamil world.'

        By making this accusation, he has also identified himself with the Shiv Sena brand of politics of whipping up regional tendencies to garner political mileage.

        Ramadoss is a different man today from what he was about a decade ago. He has now outgrown the garb of a Vanniya leader seeking votes to fight for a better representation to his community at different levels.

        The medical turned social doctor now wants to move on to a wider base which would pay rich political dividends, on to a bigger audience group — the Tamils and be their messiah.