Dear brothers and sisters,
Now II was reminded of only what dailies ‘Dinamalar’ and ‘Daily Thanthi’ wrote some months back how the Assembly in Tamil Nadu was conducted last time.
‘Dinamalar’ wrote;
“DMDMK MLAs staged walkout many times. DMK MLAs were twice evicted. Assembly is composed of opposition party also. Even if the ruling party has brute majority, they must follow legislative democracy. They must ensure the continued presence of opposition parties. The ADMK regime fails to do this. the Chief Minister releasing all announcements under rule 110 is irregular; rule violation also. Releasing announcements under rule 110 only for speaking in praise and there should be no debates or criticisms is not acceptable. Despite many enmities not even a single member was evicted from Parliament so far. Assembly is also based on such democracy. But here only murder of democracy is being staged. This is not good for the state. No issue can be debated and only announcements being released is not democratic method. Only in Tamil Nadu it is happening like this. In ADMK regime headed by Jayalalitha; this has also become the custom. Is it fair to expect everything to be accepted without debate? Hence what is happening in the Assembly is not known outside. Such functioning is not good for democracy and the state!”
The editorial of ‘Daily Thanthi’ points out:-
“During the winter session of the Assembly ended three days back, on a single day 23 bills were passed. That too they have been passed without debate. After the parties represented in the Assembly demand debate on bills, they should have been passed after debate. Super fast express trains running without stopping in stations on the way is called as ‘run-thru’. Like that in a ‘run-thru’ 23 bills were passed in just one hour.”
These are all criticisms published in pro-ruling party newspapers! It is not fair for a good democratic government not to listen to the views of opposition parties, further not at all allow an opposition party to remain in the house and take all sorts of methods needed to do away with it. after the Assembly election in TN in 2011, DMDK emerged as the main opposition party. In the last election DMDK was an alliance party of the ADMK. Now that party is suffering under this rule. Of course, DMDK and DMK have no fraternity. Still action taken by the ADMK regime against the DMDK causes distress. Ruling party and the opposition party are the two sides of a coin. In democracy the ruling party and opposition party should maintain mutual respect.
Suddenly five MLAs of the DMDK meet the Chief Minister. They say they met the CM for doing good to the people of their constituencies. If MLAs of opposition parties have to meet the CM for the sake of people should not they take the permission of the leadership of their parties? Only because that party also jointly worked in the last election that they could emerge as ruling party and wield power. Is this the way to thank them?
Did not ‘Dinamalar’ publish a report that a woman MLA belonging to Dalit community and elected from DMDK cried that she was living in unsafe condition? Did not that daily report that she said “If I go to participate in government functions, ruling party men issued threats of murder. Here there is no security for life and properties. Unsafe conditions have been created where women could not go out’?
During the Assembly session on 8.2.2013, while an MLA (Thamizhazhagan), said to have left after winning from DMDK, speaking in the House openly said that the rulers were doing many good deeds for his constituency because he left the party and if other DMDK MLAs also took decision like him they could also get benefited. Is it proper for him to openly invite like this reducing legislative democracy to ridicule? For his speech DMDK members protested in the House leading to fracas between both sides. This is a matter between members elected from DMDK. In this, alleging that a member, elected from DMDK and functioning against the discipline of that party was attacked, issue was raised against six members who firmly continue in that party and were suspended for six months.
Even before all these things, on 3.2.2012 Leader of the Opposition Vijayakanth himself was suspended for 10 days from the session of the Assembly alleging that he behaved in a way disrupting the proceedings of the House. More they subjected him to the condition that he could not get any benefit, salary, concessions and capacity as MLA. Not only action from the Assembly; so many defamation cases slapped against him, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Not only against him; how many cases against newspapers, televisions, media under this regime. Even yesterday a defamation case against CNN-IBN. What is the offence committed by them? In a cartoon released by them, a reporter was shown asking the CM how she was conducting the regime for which she replied ‘like a proprietor’. A defamation case for that. An article was published in ‘Ananda Vikatan’ about TN ministers. I wrote about that article. Immediately all ministers mentioned in that article separately have filed defamation cases against me. What is happening in TN? Is there a state of Emergency? Should not anybody speak critically of the regime or the CM in the interest of people?
On some complaint Tiruttani MLA of DMDK was arrested last year. He came out on bail the very next day. Immediately they filed an appeal in the High Court to get the bail cancelled and formed special forces to nab him for the past three days. What atrocity is this? Is it military regime or dictatorship here?
Permission for conducting rally and public meeting on the occasion of birth day of Ambedkar by Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi was refused by this regime, the party appealed to the High Court and after their President assured that no untoward incident would take place, permission was granted. But the state government preferred appeal. This anti-democratic approach is injustice to the Constitution of India and its architect Ambedkar by the ADMK regime. Similarly the permission for conducting TESO conference for Lankan Tamils was refused by this regime and held by the grace of court. Are these practices of good governance or atrocities of anarchic regime?
When the DMK came back to power in 1989 after an interval of 13 years, even as I started reading the budget statement ADMK members led by Jayalalitha snatched it from my hands, tore them and attempted to attack me also, they were suspended for few days. When the Congress party demanded that even that should be revoked, I rose up and said, “Neither me nor this government have the narrow mentality of conducting proceedings of the House without opposition parties. I approach issues only on the premise that let bygones be bygones, and what happens hereafter be good. I request that the resolution adopted on that day as reflection of emotional uproar being rescinded and the Leader of the Opposition and others worked in the House”.
Even a few days back, I had shown with instances as to how the DMK magnanimously conducted itself in the House. When the meeting of the Assembly was held on 7.2.2011 in the New Assembly in Omandurar government estate complex constructed during DMK rule, the then Deputy Leader of the Opposition O.Panneerselvam moved a resolution under rule 20(1) seeking permission of the House for Jayalalitha to absent herself from this session as she had been advised complete rest by doctors following ill health. This was seconded by ADMK whip K.A.Sengottaiyan and the resolution was adopted on voice vote. Though the ruling DMK and its fraternal parties consisted majority, the resolution moved by the opposition party was accepted without any opposition on humanitarian basis. They are all ‘political culture’!
But now everything is conducted with the idea that there should be nothing like opposition party even if it existed it should not be allowed to discharge its duty. Some may criticise this by implying motive even for telling these opinions to impress that dignity and culture should be basically maintained in politics. It is my opinion that politics should be faced as politics in democracy and it is not correct to think that it can be faced through such indecent actions. All those who have faith in democratic norms should join together and raise clarion voice.
Affectionately,
M.K.
(14.4.2013)
Now II was reminded of only what dailies ‘Dinamalar’ and ‘Daily Thanthi’ wrote some months back how the Assembly in Tamil Nadu was conducted last time.
‘Dinamalar’ wrote;
“DMDMK MLAs staged walkout many times. DMK MLAs were twice evicted. Assembly is composed of opposition party also. Even if the ruling party has brute majority, they must follow legislative democracy. They must ensure the continued presence of opposition parties. The ADMK regime fails to do this. the Chief Minister releasing all announcements under rule 110 is irregular; rule violation also. Releasing announcements under rule 110 only for speaking in praise and there should be no debates or criticisms is not acceptable. Despite many enmities not even a single member was evicted from Parliament so far. Assembly is also based on such democracy. But here only murder of democracy is being staged. This is not good for the state. No issue can be debated and only announcements being released is not democratic method. Only in Tamil Nadu it is happening like this. In ADMK regime headed by Jayalalitha; this has also become the custom. Is it fair to expect everything to be accepted without debate? Hence what is happening in the Assembly is not known outside. Such functioning is not good for democracy and the state!”
The editorial of ‘Daily Thanthi’ points out:-
“During the winter session of the Assembly ended three days back, on a single day 23 bills were passed. That too they have been passed without debate. After the parties represented in the Assembly demand debate on bills, they should have been passed after debate. Super fast express trains running without stopping in stations on the way is called as ‘run-thru’. Like that in a ‘run-thru’ 23 bills were passed in just one hour.”
These are all criticisms published in pro-ruling party newspapers! It is not fair for a good democratic government not to listen to the views of opposition parties, further not at all allow an opposition party to remain in the house and take all sorts of methods needed to do away with it. after the Assembly election in TN in 2011, DMDK emerged as the main opposition party. In the last election DMDK was an alliance party of the ADMK. Now that party is suffering under this rule. Of course, DMDK and DMK have no fraternity. Still action taken by the ADMK regime against the DMDK causes distress. Ruling party and the opposition party are the two sides of a coin. In democracy the ruling party and opposition party should maintain mutual respect.
Suddenly five MLAs of the DMDK meet the Chief Minister. They say they met the CM for doing good to the people of their constituencies. If MLAs of opposition parties have to meet the CM for the sake of people should not they take the permission of the leadership of their parties? Only because that party also jointly worked in the last election that they could emerge as ruling party and wield power. Is this the way to thank them?
Did not ‘Dinamalar’ publish a report that a woman MLA belonging to Dalit community and elected from DMDK cried that she was living in unsafe condition? Did not that daily report that she said “If I go to participate in government functions, ruling party men issued threats of murder. Here there is no security for life and properties. Unsafe conditions have been created where women could not go out’?
During the Assembly session on 8.2.2013, while an MLA (Thamizhazhagan), said to have left after winning from DMDK, speaking in the House openly said that the rulers were doing many good deeds for his constituency because he left the party and if other DMDK MLAs also took decision like him they could also get benefited. Is it proper for him to openly invite like this reducing legislative democracy to ridicule? For his speech DMDK members protested in the House leading to fracas between both sides. This is a matter between members elected from DMDK. In this, alleging that a member, elected from DMDK and functioning against the discipline of that party was attacked, issue was raised against six members who firmly continue in that party and were suspended for six months.
Even before all these things, on 3.2.2012 Leader of the Opposition Vijayakanth himself was suspended for 10 days from the session of the Assembly alleging that he behaved in a way disrupting the proceedings of the House. More they subjected him to the condition that he could not get any benefit, salary, concessions and capacity as MLA. Not only action from the Assembly; so many defamation cases slapped against him, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Not only against him; how many cases against newspapers, televisions, media under this regime. Even yesterday a defamation case against CNN-IBN. What is the offence committed by them? In a cartoon released by them, a reporter was shown asking the CM how she was conducting the regime for which she replied ‘like a proprietor’. A defamation case for that. An article was published in ‘Ananda Vikatan’ about TN ministers. I wrote about that article. Immediately all ministers mentioned in that article separately have filed defamation cases against me. What is happening in TN? Is there a state of Emergency? Should not anybody speak critically of the regime or the CM in the interest of people?
On some complaint Tiruttani MLA of DMDK was arrested last year. He came out on bail the very next day. Immediately they filed an appeal in the High Court to get the bail cancelled and formed special forces to nab him for the past three days. What atrocity is this? Is it military regime or dictatorship here?
Permission for conducting rally and public meeting on the occasion of birth day of Ambedkar by Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi was refused by this regime, the party appealed to the High Court and after their President assured that no untoward incident would take place, permission was granted. But the state government preferred appeal. This anti-democratic approach is injustice to the Constitution of India and its architect Ambedkar by the ADMK regime. Similarly the permission for conducting TESO conference for Lankan Tamils was refused by this regime and held by the grace of court. Are these practices of good governance or atrocities of anarchic regime?
When the DMK came back to power in 1989 after an interval of 13 years, even as I started reading the budget statement ADMK members led by Jayalalitha snatched it from my hands, tore them and attempted to attack me also, they were suspended for few days. When the Congress party demanded that even that should be revoked, I rose up and said, “Neither me nor this government have the narrow mentality of conducting proceedings of the House without opposition parties. I approach issues only on the premise that let bygones be bygones, and what happens hereafter be good. I request that the resolution adopted on that day as reflection of emotional uproar being rescinded and the Leader of the Opposition and others worked in the House”.
Even a few days back, I had shown with instances as to how the DMK magnanimously conducted itself in the House. When the meeting of the Assembly was held on 7.2.2011 in the New Assembly in Omandurar government estate complex constructed during DMK rule, the then Deputy Leader of the Opposition O.Panneerselvam moved a resolution under rule 20(1) seeking permission of the House for Jayalalitha to absent herself from this session as she had been advised complete rest by doctors following ill health. This was seconded by ADMK whip K.A.Sengottaiyan and the resolution was adopted on voice vote. Though the ruling DMK and its fraternal parties consisted majority, the resolution moved by the opposition party was accepted without any opposition on humanitarian basis. They are all ‘political culture’!
But now everything is conducted with the idea that there should be nothing like opposition party even if it existed it should not be allowed to discharge its duty. Some may criticise this by implying motive even for telling these opinions to impress that dignity and culture should be basically maintained in politics. It is my opinion that politics should be faced as politics in democracy and it is not correct to think that it can be faced through such indecent actions. All those who have faith in democratic norms should join together and raise clarion voice.
Affectionately,
M.K.
(14.4.2013)
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