Karunanidhi claims he is ‘shocked’ over the caste clashes and violence in Ramanathapuram. We are not, because anyone who has even a bit of sensitivity to the daily rumblings in the South, especially of late, would have warmed up to the imminence of the eruption of violence. But then our CM was caught unawares.
Probably, rationalism does not provide for waking up to ground realities in time, or worse still it may even mean allowing the crisis to precipitate so that there is a natural solution. The DMK is notorious for both, manifestations of which have been evident in the heydays of the LTTE then or the free run of the Al-Umma bombers more recently. Every such instance of callous disregard for the security concerns of the nation has been followed by unprecedented violence.
And every such violence has been promptly condemned by the sole Thaanai Thalaivan, in his chaste, deceptive rhetoric through which he invariably feigns ignorance and shock. Indeed, it is unbelievable for such a rational, all knowing and experienced CM to be caught napping. But that is what has happened, once again.
The CM is shocked! As if all this blood-letting has taken place in distant Bihar or far away Mizoram. Surely, some diligent secretary had informed the CM at the nick of the moment that the violence has taken place in his own backyard, or else the CM would have also proceeded forthwith to seek the mandatory resignation of ‘the CM’.
The privilege is now ours, and we would be wholly justified in asking the CM to step down for reasons listed in his own statement! All one has to do is to go through the CM’s lament to understand how shocked he is. And how ignorant, naive and apathetic, we may add. His statement reads like a virtual white paper on what has, and is still, taking place in south TN and I wonder what graver indictment can we, the cynical media, or the opposition or even enquiry commissions can offer that the CM himself has not admitted to.
Obviously, the intelligence networks were not intelligent enough to sense the violence which was in the air for quite some time now. It is also possible that they had alerted their higher-ups, but the culprit has once again been the characteristic silence at the highest political level, that sought to underplay the magnitude of the disaster in the offing. It is the latter possibility that is more disconcerting because the current rulers are known for their indifference to the machinations of the anti-socials, which almost always breaches the limit and takes the shape of even abetment and commitment to their cause.
This may sound like an over-reaction to what has now become a ‘routine round of violence’, but the point being stressed is that the present government neither has the ability nor the will to counter such elements when they rear their head and can never be trusted with the nation’s security. History, especially their history, would bear this out.
If it was the CoP of Kovai who faced the music after the carnage, a few scapegoats have already been readied for the impending sacrifice once the blood riot ends. The Collector, the DGP and an ADGP are already on the job, we are told. And in the line of fire too for they are most likely to be shunted out after some time ‘as a disciplinary action for lapses’.
The CM, who also doubles as the Police Minister in charge of law and order, would however stay put and confine himself to lamenting, issuing statements as if it is the next house which is burning and of course, announcing solatium. He would also bemoan that the charm has been lost on his grandiose Samathuvapuram schemes what with caste clashes undermining the very purpose of such colonies.
Indeed, the CM rarely takes kindly to the hijacking of credit and fame due to him or the denial of an opportunity to bask in his own glory. There was even a recent instance, when, rain or shine, outdoor or indoor, the CM went ahead with his own felicitation by derailing established schedules and programmes of others.
Ever in search of villains for his own failings, Karunanidhi has now come out with profound theories. He has discovered that some forces were fomenting such clashes for ‘selfish ends’. Well, idiots like us were under the impression all along that the violence was being let loose to promote communal harmony. Curse us. He has also issued a clarion call to all these elements to shun violence and get back to the negotiating table.
An appeal has also gone on air to maintain peace and not to create panic. Quite presumptuous on the part of the CM to expect mindless men to heed his counsel, but such utterences have become a political formality. The response, however, has been overwhelming though in the negative sense, for like every call of this leader which is traditionally intended to mean the opposite, the current innocuous plea has also been mistaken. There is now every effort on the part of the violence-mongers to maintain panic and not to create peace.
The police are mute spectators, and the administration is impotent as an entire district has been cut off from the rest of the State overnight and is in the control of frenzied mobs. Had the authorities been alert, they would have acted much, much before the arsonists took their time digging trenches and setting up roadblocks, instead of now begging with them for mercy and respite. How easily law slips into the hands of the outlaws, whenever the DMK is in power!
Of course, the violence will certainly end, but only when the sponsors of violence choose to end it and not before. And it will surely start, when they regain their steam. The government of Tamilnadu, its CM and his preachings are irrelevant.
Karunanidhi had better add a few ounces of shame to his sense of shock!
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