“Let this regime mend its allergy for classical language”

On the occasion of the anniversary day, June 7 of the President’s announcement in Parliament on classical language status for Tamil, DMK President Kalaignar said all Tamils and those with affinity for Tamil to think over whether this ADMK regime should mend its allergy for classical language just because he was instrumental in getting that announcement from the Centre, without thinking over the benefits to accrue from classical language status for our language.
In his epistle to cadre on June 7, Kalaignar recalled that it was on the same day in 2004 that the then President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in his customary address to the joint sitting of Parliament made the announcement, that “Tamil will be declared as a Classical Language”. That announcement immersed in the sea of happiness true Tamil scholars, Tamil enthusiasts and Tamils all over the world.
Following this, a resolution was moved in the DMK special conference held at Salem on August 21 and 22, 2004 moved by Prof M.P. Balasubramaniam and seconded by Srivilliputtur S. Amudhan, welcoming the President’s announcement and urging the Centre to soon issue the relevant Government Order.
Following this, the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh under the guidance of Tmt Sonia Gandhi on 12.10.2004 issued a notification to the declaration, Kalaignar said adding his rejoice over it. He said it would be fitting to remind the letter written by Tmt Sonia Gandhi, which was as follows:
November 8, 2005
Dear Thiru Karunanidhiji,
I have received your letter of 28th October.  I am glad that all the formalities for declaring Tamil as a Classical Language have now been completed.  This is an achievement for all the constituents of the UPA Government, but particular credit goes to you and your Party.
With Regards,
Yours sincerely,
Sonia Gandhi
Kalaignar said the demand for classical language status for Tamil was not raised only during the UPA rule but even before that the plea was sent to the Centre several times. There are numerous evidences in the history of the DMK for always raising voice for its objectives whether it was in power or in opposition. Following its efforts when it was in power for classical language status, the party took up unrelenting efforts even when it was an opposition party.
He said he, in the capacity of the President of the party, wrote a letter on 22.4.2003 to the then Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee on the necessity of announcing Tamil as a classical language. In the same year, Union Ministers and MPs belonging to the DMK, PMK and MDMK met the Prime Minister and presented a petition urging the demand.
It was in culmination of all these efforts that the Centre’s announcement came in 2004. Following this announcement, the then Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh accepted his demand as a result of which the Central Institute of Classical Tamil  functioning in Mysore was brought to Chennai. When the order for this and the Centre’s approval for rules and regulations for the Central Institute of Classical Tamil were getting delayed, Kalaignar said, “I still remember sending one of my secretaries brother K. Rajamanickam, IAS to Delhi for meeting Arjun Singh along with the then Union Minister T.R.Baalu and on the same day the Union Minister himself personally attending and getting the approval and orders of the Centre”.
When the inaugural function of the institute was held on 30.6.2008, I announced granting of Rs. One crore from my personal fund for instituting ‘Kalaignar Karunanidhi Classical Language Trust’ for granting an award and purse of Rs. 10 lakh every year for a best research scholar.
A library named ‘Paavendar Classical Tamil Research Library’ was set up at the at the place where the Assembly hall existed in the secretariat and brought there very old Tamil books and rare palm leaves.
As Chief Minister he visited the institute functioning in an important government complex on Kamarajar Salai in Chennai beach, frequently conducted meetings inviting Tamil scholars and worked out plans for further development of classical language. During the DMK rule arrangements were made for proving land and funds for constructing new office building for the institute. But what is the condition of the institute and classical language announcement after the change of regime in 2011?
‘Just because it was me who was instrumental in bringing ‘classical language’, this regime, particularly Chief Minister Jayalalitha is allergic to the very word classical language and they consider it a sin to even think about it. Even before assuming office they threw away the Pavendar Classical Tamil Research Library now we didn’t know where it was functioning. Similarly the condition of the institute is also not known. The award and purse of Rs.10 lakh every year to Tamil scholars has not be presented properly after the ADMK assumed power.
The building works for the institute also was not expedited. In a letter written to the Union Human Resources Development department, the vice-president of the institute Avvai Natarajan had said that exiting of experienced Tamil scholars and action to select again newly had created confusion. It is also said that though Natarajan was appointed by the Centre he has not been given any powers and all powers were vested with the director. At present the director of IIT, Chennai is director-in-charge of the institute. But the ADMK government in TN was least bothered about all these. It was doubtful whether the Chief Minister or any Minister had ever visited the institute and conducted any meeting in the last three years, Kalaignar said.
“In India, at present Tamil is the official language in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Tamil is one of the three official languages of Sri Lanka. Tamil finds place as one of the official languages in Singapore and Malaysia. In South Africa also Tamil has Constitutional recognition. But in ADMK regime in Tamil Nadu, is there recognition for classical Tamil?” Kalaignar asked.
He said classical language did not belong to Tamil scholars and the DMK but all who are interested in Tamil language have a stake in it. By making Tamil as a classical language, the benefits for Tamil Nadu are,
Tamil department exclusively would be created in all universities in India, if the University Gants Commission in India approves Tamil as a classical language all universities in the world will approve it, the prestige of Tamil and Tamils at the international level will increase, Tamil literatures will find place lexicons of languages of many countries, separate chairs for Tami language will be created in universities, just like the Centre providing Rs.40 crore directly and Rs.100 crore through government owned institutions for Sanskrit, there will be chances for getting assistance of development of Tamil language, Tamil literary works and modern writings will be translated to many international languages besides Indian languages and spread all over the world.
“It is distressing that the ADMK regime was not taking at least these benefits into account. On the occasion of the anniversary day, June 7 of the President’s announcement in Parliament on classical language status for Tamil, I want all Tamils and those with affinity for Tamil to think over whether this ADMK regime should mend its allergy for classical language just because I was instrumental in getting that announcement from the Centre, without thinking over the benefits to accrue from classical language status for our language”, Kalaignar said. 

Nip in bud bid to create social tension in TN!

Communal elements across the country are feeling emboldened after the new government took power at the Centre, former Union Minister and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar alleged a few days back. “A specific class has captured power in Centre, resulting in the spread of communal fever across the country. Certain communal elements, who were sidelined till now, feel that the power is with them,” he said during the party’s 15th anniversary celebrations in Mumbai.
He cited the examples of recent attacks on minorities and the killing of an engineer from Pune at the hands of activists of a fringe right-wing group, the Hindu Rashtra Sena. Two weeks ago, violence erupted in many parts of the State and over 200 buses were burnt and people belonging to a particular community were targeted for attacks after morphed photos of Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj and late Bal Thackeray went viral on the Internet.
“Keeping a certain section of society under threat will never take you to the path of development,” Pawar warned, asking NCP activists to stand in solidarity with the weakest sections of society.
Such intemperate actions of such elements were not confined to the country alone but seem to have extended to other countries also where they are settled now.
 A “pro-Modi supporter” has threatened Hindustani classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal during her concert in California last week for her vocal and public opposition to “Hindutva forces.”
The classical singer was to perform with Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre’s auditorium. Just ahead of the performance, Ms. Mudgal was accosted by one of the office-bearers of the temple. According to her, the office-bearer said he had received several mails complaining that she had written an “anti-Modi, anti-Hindu, anti-national letter” to (former Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh.
“The complainants [had] asked him not to let any anti-Hindu activity take place on the premises,” Ms. Mudgal said, adding, “I told him that it was no secret that I am anti-Modi but couldn’t see how that gave him the right to accost me in this fashion.”
As the argument got heated, other musicians joined them in the wings of the auditorium and threatened to call off the performance. However as the concert was sold out and the organisers requested them to perform, the musicians decided to go ahead with the performance under heavy security.
When such reports on intemperate action of communal elements emboldened by the BJP capturing power at the Centre were reported by the media, a disturbing development in the communally sensitive Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu was reported in ‘The Times of India’ on June 6 under the heading “Bid to rake up social tension in Coimbatore” which stated:
“BJP activists in Coimbatore have tried to rake up questions regarding the identity of migrants in the city, drawing fire from various quarters for creating social tension. BJP State Secretary GKS Selvakumar and others lodged a petition with Coimbatore district collector Archana Patnaik on June 5 seeking action against migrants who they allege are refugees from Bangladesh living illegally in the area. BJP has blamed them for a rise in crime in the city.
The allegations have been condemned by some sections which pointed out that most such people are long-time residents who have migrated from West Bengal for jobs in jewellery and construction sectors.
 “Indians have the right to live anywhere in the country. If they commit any offences, as per the law, action should be taken. People from West Bengal have been working as gold smiths and construction workers. BJP does not have any evidence that these workers are from Bangladesh. They should stop making allegations without evidence,” said former Coimbatore MP PR Natarajan from CPM.
District Collector Patnaik said the petition had been received and they would look into the matter. City police commissioner AK Viswanathan warned that, “Stringent action would be taken against those who disturb the people of West Bengal who are constitutionally protected. As per the law, police would take action against illegal immigrants.”
This is the crux of the matter? Who will decide on ‘illegal migrants’? Will all Bengali speaking Muslims be declared as illegal migrants? All such questions have already caused social tensions, riots and killings in Assam. Do they want repeat of such untoward incidents to happen in Tamil Nadu also? How was the BJP State Secretary emboldened now to rake up such an issue, keeping quite all along and now after the end of the recently held Lok Sabha elections?
It was because their prime ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections and now the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to rake up this issue in Assam in February last only with the motive of communally polarising people and seeing political benefit, which led to riots and carnage in western parts of Assam later threatening the situation in the neighbouring West Bengal also.
As tension remained high in parts of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam after killing spree in the first week of last month (May) in which the death toll has rose to more than 50, the Centre said it was an attempt to trigger a full-fledged communal conflagration. Angry residents had to be persuaded to bury 18 victims by Siddique Ahmed, Minister of Cooperation and Border Areas, sent to stand in for Chief Minister TarunGogoi. Hundreds of Muslims, who were targeted for the killings, were fleeing from their areas and accommodated in camps.
When such a situation prevailed threatening communal flare-up elsewhere, no responsible political leader would have attempted to stoke communal feelings and appealed for calm and peace. But that was not the case with the Sangh parivar, whose choicest Prime Ministerial candidate was the post-Godhra carnage fame Narendra Modi.
Some hundred miles away from these places of arson and killing spree in Assam, campaigning in Bankura in West Bengal, Narendra Modi, however, repeated a crudest line that was a controversial theme of his campaign in the Northeast: “Illegal Bangladeshi migrants who are being brought to India in the name of vote-bank politics will have to go back to Bangladesh.”
Who were the legal migrants and illegal migrants, according to Modi and his party and parivar? Legal migrants are ‘Hindu refugees’ who have to be welcomed and accorded citizenship and illegal migrants are ‘Muslims’ who had to be sent back to their country- be it Pakistan or Bangladesh.
The BJP election manifesto declaring India as ‘a natural home for persecuted Hindus’, triggered an animated debate on the nature of the State a Narendra Modi-led government would create if elected to power. BJP supporters termed it as an ‘obvious step’, but critics pointed out that this puts a Hindu country tag on India and went against the principle of secularism.
Bangladesh was mentioned only once in the entire manifesto, in terms of illegal immigration into India from that country. BJP said it would address the issue of “infiltration and illegal immigrants in the Northeast region [of India] on a priority basis. This will include clear policy directions and effective control at the ground level.” The party also vowed to complete the construction of a border fence along India’s borders with both Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma).
Modi had floated this idea at a rally in Assam in last February itself, making a distinction between Hindu and Muslim refugees from Bangladesh and arguing that the former should be accommodated and the latter should be sent back.
“We have a responsibility towards Hindus who are harassed and suffer in other countries. India is the only place for them... we will have to accommodate them here,” Modi had said. He also claimed that the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had devised measures to accommodate Hindu refugees from Pakistan.
“For all the talk about putting India first, this one line shows BJP continues to think of Hindus as primary constituents of India,” said Siddharth Varadarajan of Centre for Public Affairs and Critical Theory at Shiv Nadar University. “Why should a Fijian Indian who happened to be Muslim have any less claim over refuge in India than a Fijian Indian who happened to be Hindu?” he asked.
He said that the principle of ‘non-refoulment’ – it protects refugees from being returned or expelled to hostile places – does not allow the denial of refuge to a persecuted person on the basis of his religion. “BJP could have said all victims of religious, political, ethnic persecution are welcome.”
Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim bashing was attempted to be given an ‘intellectual’ interpretation by the parivar ideologue and BJP leader Arun Jaitley.  In a vicious statement issued by him he said, “There are many who see virtues in polarization. Regrettably, we in the BJP are accused of benefitting from polarization even if polarization is encouraged by political opponents.
The issue of infiltration of Bangladeshis into the Indian territory is one such case. A section of the Congress leadership in Assam had consciously followed the policy of encouraging infiltration since they wanted to offset the domination of the ethnic Assamese in Assam. Mass infiltration of Bangladeshis has changed the demographic character of Assam, West Bengal and some districts of Bihar. Any patriotic Indian could be seriously concerned with this Infiltration. It is pressure of economic resources. It is a pressure on land. It impacts national security. The fact that every district in Assam adjacent to the chicken’s neck have witnessed a significant demographic change on account of the infiltration is serious security concern.
The BJP’s stand is that infiltration must be stopped and the infiltrators must be sent back The root cause of social tension in several parts of North-east is infiltration. Some political parties in Assam and West Bengal have regrettably made infiltration into a secular cause because infiltrators are their vote bank.
Narendra Modi’s stance against infiltrators is justified and legitimate. We must also understand the difference between an infiltrator and a refugee. A refugee is a person who on account of his religious beliefs or political views is persecuted. An infiltrator gate crashes only for economic opportunities. To place them at par would be naive. I have a lurking suspicion for critics of this view understand the distinction but compulsions of vote bank won’t make them agree to this view”.
The political impact of the Assam killings was felt in the election campaign in other States. A day after J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alleged that Narendra Modi was responsible for stoking communal fires in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a similar, but veiled attack on the BJP prime ministerial hopeful.
“Certain comments of some political parties, including the aspirant of high offices are adding fuel [to the violence in Assam],” she posted on Facebook. At a rally in Nadia district, she said “fires would burn throughout the country” if a candidate who talked about driving away certain sections of people, was elected to head the nation.
The then Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in New Delhi that the objective of the massacre was a communal conflagration as the victims belonged to a minority community.
Now Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister of India and Arun Jaitly is the Union Finance Minister with additional charge of Defence portfolio. The BJP is the ruling party at the Centre. People of India hope that sanity will prevail over them now with the responsibility of governance vested in them.
But the BJP leadership or the Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not so far disowned and condemned the statement of their MP Anil Shirole from Pune, the city of killing and riots now, that “some amount of repercussions” after the posts on social media was “natural” or the petition presented to the district administration by their Tamil Nadu State Secretary GKS Selvakumar for identifying and returning ‘Illegal migrants’, an euphemism for Muslims.
People of Tamil Nadu, essentially peace and harmony-loving and accommodative, will want to know whether Vijayakanth of DMDK, Ramadoss of PMK and Vaiko of MDMK, who enthusiastically aligned with the BJP for the elections and still claiming to be a part of the ruling alliance at the Centre, identify themselves with the demand of the State BJP leader or distance themselves from such dangerously communal outlook. While they, just like the people of India, want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be different from BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Modi, also want Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, who is keen on cosying up to the new ruling dispensation at the Centre, to nip in the bud the bid to create social tension in the communally sensitive city of Coimbatore, putting aside her political manouvres. r

DMK for permanent solution to fishermen issue

The DMK President, Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, on June 9 urged the Centre to initiate steps to find a permanent solution to the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.
In the statement condemning the recent arrest of 82 fishermen from the State by Sri Lanka, he said such incidents have become a continued affair. “The Indian Prime Minister honoured Sri Lankan President by inviting him to his swearing-in ceremony. He [Mahinda Rajapaksa] also announced release of arrested Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture. But, even after this, the arrests have not stopped,” Kalaignar said, adding that India had also released Sri Lankan fishermen from its jails.
Contrary to expectations that the attacks would end after the BJP government took over, Kalaignar said the arrests have continued.

Convene all-party meet on the issue of setting up Cauvery Management Board

A day after Union Chemicals and Fertilizer Minister Ananth Kumar said there was no proposal to set up the Cauvery Management Board, DMK President Kalaignar M Karunanidhi on June 8 said Chief Minister Jayalalitha should convene an all-party meeting on the issue of setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), in the wake of her Karnataka counterpart’s proposed meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge him not to constitute it citing pendency of the review petition in the Supreme Court.
In a statement, Kalaignar said that in one of her statements earlier, Jayalalitha had stated that her government was struggling for the setting up of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery water regulatory committee, besides getting the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal published in the Central gazette.
He asked whether it was because of her regime that the final award of the tribunal was notified in the Central gazette. It might be true that it was done during her regime, but could she try to claim credit for it.
The truth was that the Judge of the Supreme Court bench questioned the Centre why the final award was still not notified and directed it to notify it in the Central gazette. This truth was admitted by Jayalalitha herself in the course of her press meet on 20.2.2013 when she said “…. what has compelled the Central government to notify the Award is the Supreme Court. So we are grateful to the Supreme Court”.
But a function was arranged in Thanjavur on 9.3.2013 to felicitate her for this and she was presented with ‘a statue of Ponnyin Selvi’. It was self-congratulatory even for which dailies spared pages after pages. “But did Tamil Nadu receive Cauvery water so far vide the Award? Did water arrive in due time last year? Was Mettur dam opened on the due date? Was Kuruvai cultivation taken up in full? Did at least drought relief properly reach affected farmers due to failure of Kuruvai crop? They said the CMB and CWRC would be set up due to Jayalalitha’s efforts, are they all set up? The truth that excepting victory function nothing else has happened”
He said at a time when there was a big question mark among farmers on taking up Kuruvai crop cultivation due to depleted storage in Mettur Dam, the Chief Minister should realise that convening of an all-party meeting was of utmost importance to discuss about the setting up of the CMB.
Kalaignar said the Chief Minister, during her recent visit to Delhi, had submitted a 64-page memorandum to the Prime Minister urging him to immediately constitute the CMB. The Prime Minister had also given an assurance to her in this regard.
Under these circumstances, media reports quoting Karnataka’s Union Minister Ananth Kumar said there was no proposal with the Centre on setting up of the CMB and that he had discussed the issue with Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati, he pointed out.
The DMK chief said, moreover, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had opposed setting up of the CMB as the review petitions filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, against the verdict of the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal was pending before the Supreme court.
Mr K Siddaramaiah had also stated that no steps should be taken to set up the CMB citing pendency of the case in the apex court, Kalaignar recalled.
Siddaramaiah would also be leading an all party delegation to meet the Prime Minister at New Delhi on June 10 to personally urge him not to set up the CMB, he pointed out.
Kalaignar said at a time when Karnataka has been giving utmost importance to the Cauvery issue by convening all-party meetings and leading a delegation to New Delhi, no such action has been initiated in Tamil Nadu.
“Jayalalithaa should at least now realise that it was utmost important to invite the leaders of all political parties and elicit their views on the issue by convening an all-party meeting,” he added.
More parties demand: Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar’s comments that the Centre had no proposal to create the Cauvery Management Board (CMB)  to oversee the implementation of the Cauvery Tribunal’s final award, evoked strong condemnation from the Opposition in Tamil Nadu on June 8.
These parties, including the DMK, urged the ADMK government to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss the issue. 
Anbumani Ramadoss, an MP of the PMK, an ally of the BJP, said the views of Kumar were “shocking.” Another Union Minister from Karnataka, Sadanand Gowda, made a similar statement, he said. Anbumani said that as per the Constitution, Union Ministers represented the entire country. “Keeping the welfare of Tamil Nadu farmers in mind, Kumar should lend his voice to the creation of the CMB,” he said. Modi’s government was indeed making efforts to resolve the issue.
CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan also sought an all-party meeting, whereas CPI leader D. Pandian condemned  Kumar’s statement.

Cauvery water issue: “Jayalalitha not concerned over establishing rights of TN”

DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi on June 10 denied that his plea for convening an all-party meeting by the ADMK regime to discuss issues related to setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), which will oversee implementation of the Cauvery Tribunal’s Final Award, had been made in an unseemly hurry and said that the refusal of the Chief Minister Jayalalitha made clear that she was not interested in establishing the rights of Tamil Nadu in Cauvery issue.
Referring to Jayalalitha’s statement on June 9 on the issue, Kalaignar said the demand of all parties in the State and all sections of people including delta farmers was the CMB should be constituted. But, people of Karnataka and all political parties there unanimously say that no steps should be taken now on the constitution of the CMB. Pointing out to reports that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, on the other hand, was leading an all-party delegation to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister to press their case against constitution of the CMB now, Kalaignar said it was strange that the ADMK leader had quickly turned down the demand made by the DMK and other Opposition parties in the State for an all-party meet. “If all the parties meet and take a united stand on the issue, it would have only strengthened the position of the Chief Minister.”
From the united action taken by Karnataka government and the ADMK leader brushing aside his plea would make it clear to all “who is more concerned about the Cauvery waters issue.”
Just like the saying ‘The hand of one infected with psoriasis won’t keep quite’, Jayalalitha didn’t fail to accuse me even while issuing statement that all parties in TN had same opinion. She has informed that ‘DMK President Karunanidhi silently withdrew the case on Cauvery waters’. “This was totally wrong. It was not silently withdrawn but only after convening the meeting of leaders of all parties and getting their views, that too with the condition that a case could again be filed if required”, Kalaignar said adding it was done on goodwill after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi felt the pending case could be impediment for amicable settlement through talks. “Jayalalitha, in the absence of any other valid point, repeating the same accusation ad nauseam’.
Moreover, she has claimed that the DMK while in power did nothing to get the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal notified in the Central gazette and she did everything for it. The truth was that Karnataka and Kerala had filed special leave petitions in the Supreme Court against the final award. Tamil Nadu government had also filed a special appeal for further study of some portions of the Tribunal report which were against the interests of the state. All these were pending in the Supreme Court for some years. According to law only after the Tribunal submitted to the Centre its supplementary report on the petitions filed and that was notified in the Central gazette, the final award would come into force and binding all States. Till then only the interim report would be in force. In spite of him explaining this legal process several times, Jayalalitha was unnecessarily accusing the DMK of doing nothing.
Moreover she has said that listening to the views of all parties was meaningless act. If so is the Karnataka Chief Minister democratically seeking the views of all parties and acting accordingly, a meaningless action? The same Jayalalitha had convened all-party meetings during her previous tenure, were they all meaningless actions? “Only the people of Tamil Nadu who voted for her in the Parliamentary elections should realise whether Jayalalitha was functioning with the arrogance that there was nothing above her, there were nothing that she did not know and not prepared to climb down to the level of convening meeting of all parties and seeking their opinions”, Kalaignar said.
Further, Jayalalitha’s reasoning that the Centre needed to be given some time after her recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi CMB was more reflective of her eagerness “to be supportive of the Central government” rather than to get the CMB set up expeditiously, he said adding the refusal of the Chief Minister Jayalalitha made clear that she was not interested in establishing the rights of Tamil Nadu in Cauvery issue.

“Justice delayed is Justice deterred”

Citing the latest attempts made by Jayalalitha and others to drag the Disproportionate Assets case against them, DMK President Kalaignar asked just as the saying ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ would not justice delayed amount to justice deterred (prevented).
In his epistle to party cadre on June 8, Kalaignar said that he was not generally accustomed to criticising courts and judgements delivered by judges. But it was not only himself but the whole country was witnessing to what extent Jayalalitha side was respecting courts and how they manipulated judicial process and rules of law to fulfil their selfish motives.


If even after the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice S. N. Variava and Justice H. K. Sema on 18.11.2003 observing in their judgement, “It is clear to what extent the public prosecutor has functioned in collusion with the accused ..it appears that process of justice is being subverted... The circumstances are such that it would create reasonable apprehension in the minds of the public, at large, in general, and the petitioner, in particular, that there is every likelihood of failure of justice. Justice is being diverted and subverted. The trial should be conducted on day-to-day basis,” the trial has not come to an end, it shows to what extent the accused made limitless attempts to drag and delay the trial for their escape and to a great extent achieved their objective.
Though the present judge of the special court John Michael D Cunha fuctioned with duty consciousness to expeditiously complete the trial, deliver judgement and protect legal norms, so many efforts were being made to indefinitely postpone final judgement.
With his explaining how they were getting adjournments after adjournments to escape in this case, in this epistle Kalaignar said he was giving details of their attempts to postpone judgement in the final stage.
After keeping quite all these 15 years, the firm Lex Properties Development Private Limited moved the Bangalore special court in March last when the trial was about to be completed and judgement was to be delivered, to relieve them from this case and till their petition was heard and disposed the trial in the main case should be stayed. That is there demand was that not only releasing their properties attached but also the trial against Jayalalitha should be stayed!
The judge accepted their petition demand for releasing the attached properties bur dismissed the plea for stay on trial. On their appeal against this order in the Karnataka High Court, the judge Justice Sathyanarayanan observed in his order that it was only for expeditiously complete the trial that the special court was set up vide Supreme Court guidelines which also insisted on trial on daily basis. But several petitions were being filed with the intention of dragging the trial. The demand for release of attached properties was not acceptable and hence dismissed. Moreover the fine of Rs.10,000 imposed by the special court for wasting the time of the court was insufficient and hence it was increased to Rs.One lakh which should be remitted within 15 days.
The same company had earlier moved the court for relieving them from the case which was dismissed. But even after the special court and the Karnataka High Court dismissed their plea for stay of the trial in the main case, the company moved the Supreme Court which was dismissed May 8 by a bench consisting of Justices B.S.Chauhan, J. Chellameswar and M.Y. Iqbal and pulled up the firm for working to stall the trial.
To further drag the trial Jayalalitha’s lawyer P.Kumar filed a petition in the special court and argued that the petition regarding the firms should be taken up first on the basis of Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan on April 2 directing the trial court to give preference to the plea of companies included in the case for relieving them staying the trial in the main case till they were disposed, and only after the ownership of these companies were ascertained they (Jayalalitha’s side) could prove against the charges framed against them.
In his order on this petition on May 7, the special court judge Cunha clarified that ‘their petition had already been admitted. But the plea for stay of the trial in the main case till the disposal of this petition could not be accepted. Both cases will be heard simultaneously and before delivering judgement in the main case, order on this petition will be passed”.
But despite this, a director of the company filed a petition in the Supreme Court against attachment of properties of Lex Properties and demanded stay of the main case till it was disposed. The bench consisting of Justices B.S.Chauhan and A.K. Sikri on May 13 refused to order interim stay for the main case and posted hearing on May 26. But the same bench on June 26 ordered interim stay on the trial in assets case and ordered the DVAP DGP to file counter affidavit on Jayalalitha’s petition.
“Don’t we know what sort of counter affidavit the DVAP under the control of the Tamil Nadu government will file? But the DVAP without filing the counter on the due date of June 6 had sought more time in the Supreme Court.
In the meanwhile, DMK General Secretary Prof K. Anbazhagan filed a petition against the interim stay for the trial of the case, and during the hearing on the petition on June 6, senior counsel Shanmugasundaram submitted that it was not correct to order stay without hearing the Special Public Prosecutor. But the DVAP, which should have opposed the interim stay, pressed for further postponement of the trial. The SC judges refused to post the case for four more weeks, directed Jayalalitha side to file counter to the petition of Prof K. Anbazhagan before June 13 and again postponed the trial in the case till June 16. “On witnessing this, if people are reminded of the saying “f§ifæny Kis¤jhY« ngŒ¢ Riu¡fhŒ ešy Riu¡fhŒ MfhJ” (Even if sprouted in Ganges river, the devil bottle-gourd will not become good bottle-gourd”), I am not responsible for it”, Kalaignar said.
Somehow, the trial in the assets case has been adjourned by the Supreme Court for ten more days, resented Kalaignar.
As the accused were delaying their final arguments despite the court directing them to do so and as they didn’t come forward to begin their final arguments on May 26, judge Cunha pulled up them and posted the hearing at 3 pm on the day ordering the accused Sasikala and Ilavarasi to stand in the accused box in the court till then.
About this ‘The Times of India’ daily published a lengthy news analysis on May 26 under the caption “Wealth case casts shadow over Jaya’s power surge”, Kalaignar noted.
In another news analysis in “India Today’ (Tamil) June 4 issue under the heading ‘Nearing verdict day’ it was reported that the verdict in this case was expected to be delivered before the end of this year.
In the meanwhile, in another petition the Jayalalitha side had contended that it was wrong for the investigation officer Nallamma Naidu to attach properties. Judge Cunha dismissed the petition on June 4 and in his order said, “The argument of the accused that the investigation officer had no power to attach properties is not acceptable; moreover, having filed over hundred petitions from 1999 till now, did the accused were reminded only now that the investigating officer has now powers for attaching properties? It is very clear that this is an attempt to drag the case”.
“I hope all these will provide good explanations to show how the trial in the disproportionate assets case is being dragged. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ is the saying. Will not delayed justice amount to deterred (prevented).

Why the ADMK regime does not reply to queries on power situation: Kalaignar

Stating that he had been raising many questions on the power situation in the State and on the reported long-term agreements for purchase of power and citing the reports in various dailies, DMK President Kalaignar said the ADMK regime did not reply to any of the queries raised by him and PMK founder-leader Dr. Ramadoss and asked it to respond to the latter if not to him.
Answering a question on the announcement of Jayalalitha on May 27 that power cut in the State would be totally removed from June 1, Kalaignar said she came to power only by promising to eradicate power cut within three months of coming to power and thereafter she and her electricity minister announced the same several times but power cut did not end.
In her statement Jayalalitha had claimed that due to great efforts of the government led by her new power generation capacity had been installed in the last three years to generate 2,500 MW of power. He has given details for the claim. In a statement on June 7, Ramadoss had said that power cut had started throughout the State from June 3 and in districts unannounced power cut for 4-6 hours daily was in vogue. He has also pointed out that power generation had now increased only because the power projects started during the previous DMK rule and joint collaboration projects had been completed. Unable to tolerate it and at the same time she had no convincing reply for it she had asked the minister in charge of the department to issue statement.
Kalaignar said neither Jayalalitha nor the Minister who has now issued a statement had not so far given any reply to his question when and where the power projects for this new generation capacity of 2,500 MW were stated by this regime. The truth is that this 2,500 MW power has started to be received from the projects started during the DMK rule. None of the projects announced by Jayalalitha have so far been started and no power is received from them. In his statement the Minister has said that ‘due to Jayalalitha pushing up thermal power projects kept in abeyance during DMK rule, five new thermal power projects have started generating and 2,500 MW additional power generation capacity has been created’. From this it can be understood that this 2,500 MW additional power is obtained from the projects started during DMK rule. If these projects were not started by the DMK government this generation of 2,500 would not have been possible. These rulers should be grateful to the DMK rule for that, Kalaignar said.
Both the Chief Minister and the Minister have informed that long term agreements for 15 years have been signed for procurement of 3,330 MW power from private power generating units in other States. “When so much of power is purchased, were tenders called for, what is the price, what is the secret behind 15 year long agreement at the same time? Will not any new projects be started till then by the State government? Despite repeatedly asking for these details, why this regime is no giving any reply? Will they at least reply hereafter?” Kalaignar asked.
Kalaignar cited a report in ‘Dinamalar’ daily on 12.6.2014 that it was expected that 1000 MW power will be available in this month from the agreement for procuring 3330 MW from private units as a crisis has crept in bringing power from other States because the power corridor has not yet come for commercial usage. “Even though there is no reply to my questions what is their response to press reports. Though they are not willing to reply me, will they at least answer 10 questions raised by Ramadoss”, Kalaignar asked. 
Asked about the belated appointment of new Chairman for TN Electricity Regulatory Commission, Kalaignar said after the retirement of Kabilan, appointed during DMK rule, in January 2012, the post remained vacant in the last two and half years and now TN Electricity Transmission Corporation director Akshay Kumar has been appointed as chairman of the commission by the ADMK government. But immediately a crisis is reported to have crept up for the appointment as the workers of TNEB have filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the appointment as only persons from judicial service should be appointed as chairman of the commission. Even as the petition was pending in the court S. Akshay Kumar has assumed office in the presence of the Minister and the very next day a petition had been filed for staying the appointment.
Asked why instead of Jayalalitha replying to the statement of Ramadoss on electricity and his statement on classical language, statements in the names of Ministers had been issued, Kalaignar said it showed that what was told by him and Ramadoss were true. If they were wrong Jayalalitha would have replied. As she had understood the truth, she did not want to issue statement in her name and instead made scapegoat of the ministers. But people knew the truth, Kalaignar said.

When will Modi put an end to the bad name of ‘corrupt CM’?

Referring to the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament that his government would request the Supreme Court to bring an end to the cases against MPs with criminal background within one year and thus change the image of India in the world a ‘scam India’, DMK President Kalaignar said a case against a Chief Minister with criminal background was being dragged for 17 years and asked the Prime Minister when he would bring an end to the bad name of ‘corrupt Chief Minister’.
Asked about the reports that the Disproportionate assets case against her was the reason for Jayalalitha to praise the BJP now after opposing it before the polling in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, Kalaignar said he did not know anything about it.


But journalist P.Thirumavelan has written a detailed article under the heading “»š b#ayèjh nf°- gÑ® bg§fqU nu°” in ‘Ananda Vikatan’, which is as follows:
“The State of her birth, Karnataka is changing into State of lament for Jayalalitha!
Unable to celebrate even the verdict of people of Tamil Nadu giving 37 out of 39, only the verdict Judge Cunha is waiting to deliver in the disproportionate assets case (against her) is giving Jayalalitha lamentation making her uneasy without peaceful sleep. The disproportionate assets case against Jayalalitha, Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran has acquired the distinction of reaching unprecedented push and pull stage like this in the history of Indian judiciary.
After filing of this case, Indian Parliament has crossed five general elections. Tamil Nadu Assembly has faced three elections. For the Supreme Court, 16 Chief Justices have changed. For the Madras High Court, 12 Chief Justices have come and gone. For Jayalalitha who was 49 years old then, golden jubilee has passed and it is six years since the diamond jubilee of her birth day has passed. For the Bangalore special court itself four judges have changed. The Special Public Prosecutor is also changed. The Investigation officers of the case have also retired. But the case is still moving on …They say ‘There is a day for settling account for all’. But as far as this case is concerned, what is that (day) is not known.
The hope of rule of law,that law will discharge its duty and law will take its own course, is given daily. But ‘when?’ is the biggest question as far as Bangalore case is concerned!
“There is no doubt that the British system of administration is the best. That has given noble benefits. But it has some defects also. It requires simplicity for access and expeditious justice. To achieve them this system should be totally revamped.”, said the first Attorney General of India M.C. Setalvad. The disproportionate assets case against Jayalalitha conducted in Karnataka State it the evidence in front of our eyes for showing that his words were not paid heed to.
When she came to power for the first time, that is according to the accounts in 1991, Jayalalitha’s properties were worth Rs. 2,01,83,957. When her period in power ended in 1996, the value of her assets was Rs. 66,65,20,395. How can Jayalalitha, who was receiving salary of one rupee per month acquire assets worth more than Rs. 66 crores? It is in search of answer for this one question that the case is being conducted for over 17 years. The amount spent so far by the government, judiciary and Jayalalitha side for conducting this case would have far exceeded the amount mentioned in the charge-sheet. This is an indication that it is not only waste of time and money but also that of justice.
Jayalalitha lost power in the 1996 Assembly elections. The ADMK candidates could win only in four of the 234 constituencies. Jayalalitha herself lost. Four months after the defeat, she accepted that ‘It is my duty to own responsibility for the mistakes that happened”. In that statement she also said, “The party’s name was spoilt because those who were connected with those who were close to me created centres of power without my knowledge”. Though Jayalalitha did not mention anybody by name the world knew to whom she was referring to. Those power centres are Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran who are climbing stairs of courts along with her.
Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh has submitted before Judge Cunha of the special court, Bangalore that “Before the filing of this case the accused owned only 17 assets. During the case period of 1991-96 this has increased to 306 assets” and filed documents running to 2,500 pages as evidence.
“The economic condition of the accused in the case has incomparably risen. When Jayalalitha was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu she has received salary of Rs 27 at the rate of one rupee per month for the first 27 months in five years. But she has constructed buildings worth Rs.14 crores. When her residence was raided, 23 kg of gold and ornaments worth Rs.90 lakhs were seized. During this period his side have started 32 new companies”, said Bhavani Singh adding, “Rs. 66 crore is the value then and the present value is Rs. 2,847 crore”. This is the essence of the final argument of the special public prosecutor.
The lawyers of Jayalalitha, Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran have to submit their final arguments. With which the arguments should come to an end. The date of verdict will be announced. The verdict will be delivered. If everything move without hindrance, all the works in Bangalore special court will be over before the end of July. But, Jayalalitha filed a petition in the Supreme Court pleading for stay. The court stayed the trial till June 6 and it was further extended up to June 16 by the Supreme Court.
It was the same Supreme Court which in 2003 ordered that this case should be expeditiously completed. When DMK General Secretary Prof. K. Anbazhagan moved the Supreme Court for transferring this case to some other State after Jayalalitha returned to power as the trial in this case against her would not be conducted fairly, the Bench consisting of Justices S.N.Variava and H.K.Seema. The judges agreed that, “petitioner Anbazhagan had made out a case that public confidence in the fairness of trial is being seriously undermined and great prejudice appeared to have been caused to the prosecution which could culminate in miscarriage of justice and hence this case has to be transferred to another State” and directed that the trial should be conducted on a day to day basis. But after that 10 years have passed. It can be said that filing petition after petition during the trial is the concession and right given by law to Jayalalitha side. Is it correct for Jayalalitha who swore by the Constitution of India while assuming the office of the Chief Minister, to behave like this?
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court P.N. Bhagwati, who delivered historical verdicts in Indian judicial history, once said, “I am pained to state that the judicial system in our country is almost in dilapidated condition. Due to the weight of pending cases our judicial system is crumbling. Only the dishonest get benefited due to court delays. As exempted from conviction for years they fail in their duty and without performing legal works they spend time. Every affordable person obtain something like orders, stay or stay orders and enjoy the benefit if it for years. All these are done mostly by harming public welfare”. Only the judiciary should find out the blocks for excessive delays.
The present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice R.M. Lodha has said “The courts should complete cases against existing members of Parliament and Assemblies within one year”. Why not they implement it in this as the first case?
It was in the same case that the Judges of the Supreme Court Justices S.N. Variava and H.K. Seema wrote, “Be you so high, the law is above you”. Why so much dragging to the extent of (special court) judge Pachapure observing, “I am sitting alone in this court during the past six months and feel like being locked up in solitary confinement”, after the Supreme Court telling that ‘judge Balakrishna can continue to hear the case’, to the extent of Balakrishna saying in frustration that he was not inclined to conduct the trial and special public prosecutor Acharya in annoyance telling that he would not come to that court thereafter? Whenever they file petition for stay the present judge Cunha imposes penalty each time. This is taken to the Karnataka High Court on appeal. The High Court judges increase the penalty amount. If continued like this, this case will drag on for another 10 years. This will be a blemish for law and fairness and dharma!
(Courtesy: Ananda Vikatan, 18.6.2014)

“The impetus was provided by Thalapathi M.K.Stalin”

The dream is to enter the IAS cadre and N L Beno Zephine, who is visually impaired, is holding her breath until the marks for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam results are released in 15 days.It was a tough few years of work, but Beno, 24, enjoyed it and has secured an all-India rank of 343 in the UPSC exams. This is also the first time that a visually challenged girl has passed the civil services examinations in India.

She proudly says that the impetus for her to crack the civil services examinations was the consistent support and encouragement provided by DMK Treasurer and former Deputy Chief Minister Thalapathi M.K.Stalin. Indeed! On every crucial occasion in the last seven years of her life, Stalin has played a positive role in her progress and development.

She said she could not forget all through her life the gesture of Stalin remembering her birthday and paying surprise visit to her house on that day to greet her. He arranged for her travel to the USA to participate in the international forum for young leaders also provided her the basis and encouragement for her development, she said.
Her father George said that the DMK Treasurer has an important place among those who contributed for his daughter’s achievements.
“Preparing for the civil services made it easy for me to clear other competitive exams,” she said.
She got a few books Brailled, but much of her preparation was done with the help of her father and friends. “She would insist that her father read the newspaper to her every morning, and she was an exceptionally sharp observer,” said Sathya, MD of Strategy IAS Academy, who coached Beno to face the interviews.
Beno is one of more than 100 candidates from Tamil Nadu who made it to the civil services this year. She had to juggle preparing for a PhD in English literature from Bharathiar University with a full time job as a probationary officer in SBI. “I learnt to balance both and understood how to use my time efficiently in the process,” she said.
She also downloaded the Jaws screen reader to get more information. Her father works for the railways and prompted her to get into a government job at a higher level and her mother is a homemaker.
Involved in her progress: On April 17, 2008, the dailies reported under the heading “Stalin surprises young achiever on her birthday”,

“18-year old Beno Zephine will be keeping the Indian flag flying at an international forum for young leaders.
Not a mean achievement for a visually challenged person from a humble background. Beno Zephine who is a plus two student at the Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary School for the visually challenged in Chennai, has several prizes and awards to her credit for her oratorical skills, and is among 360 youngsters from about 100 countries invited to take part in the Global Young Leaders’ Conference to be held in the United States in June.
Though delighted to receive the news, Beno, daughter of a railway technician, was at a loss as to how to mobilise funds for the trip.
Beno had written to the Chief Minister appealing for funds to participate in the conference. She had handed over a copy of the appeal to Thiru Stalin when he visited the school earlier on March 1 on his birthday. Thiru Stalin sent the appeal to the Chief Minister recommending that the government treat this as a special case and release the funds. Chief Minister Kalaignar, who was briefed about the case, obliged.
That was when the government came calling. Chief Minister Kalaignar M Karunanidhi presented her with a cheque for Rs 4.70 lakh to enable her to participate in the event.
For Beno, busy preparing for the conference and honing her oratorical skill, it turned out to be a double delight when she received an unexpected guest on her birthday on April 17. It was none other than Local Administration Minister Thiru M K Stalin, who took time off from his schedule to pay a surprise visit to her house with his daughter and son-in-law, to keep a promise he had made to her last month.
Beno had invited him home for her birthday when she went to the Secretariat to receive the assistance from Chief Minister Kalaignar.
“He took note of the date and assured us that he would come. But, it was really a surprise when he turned up at our house,” said Thiru L A Charles, her father. The Local Administration Minister, who spent about 50 minutes at the household full of awe-struck relatives and curious neighbours, presented Beno with a bouquet and a dress. Wishing her well for the upcoming US trip, the Minister said he had arranged for her visit to Tamil sangams there and encouraged her to make a mark at the United States international conference.
He wished her well and wanted her to perform well at the Global Young Leaders Conference to be held in June 2008 in Washington D.C.
According to the GYLC website, it is a unique leadership development programme that brings together outstanding young people from around the world to build critical leadership skills in a global context.
GYLC gives high-achieving students aged 16-18 a greater understanding of their roles as global ambassadors while analysing concepts surrounding communications, diplomacy, law, human rights, peace, security, economics and the role of the United Nations.
Thiru Stalin said no child should be left behind because of a handicap. The government was implementing many schemes for the welfare of students. He was impressed with the confidence the students had shown and wanted them to take advantage of the schemes offered by the government.
A delighted Beno also penned a poem for Thiru Stalin as a token of her gratitude and recited it in front of the VIP guests who had made her day extra special.
Four years later on April 17, 2011 the dailies under the heading “Stalin keeps promise to blind girl; visits her on b’day” reported:

The human face of M K Stalin came to the fore when the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister kept his promise to a blind girl by visiting and greeting her on the occasion of her birthday today.
The blind girl Beno’s joy knew no bounds, as her wish was fulfilled when Stalin, as promised, visited her house, and cut a cake to mark the occasion.
The girl’s father is a railway employee and her mother a housewife. The girl resides in Kolathur in North Chennai from where Stalin had contested the April 13 Assembly polls.
It was mainly due to the humanitarian gesture of Stalin that Beno, a third year BA English Literture student, was able to participate in the International Youth Summit in US. Following a request from her during a school function, Stalin ensured release of Rs four lakh assistance from the state government to enable her to make the trip. It was all the more memorable for Beno as Stalin had also arranged her stay in his friend’s house in US.
Yet another surprise was in store for Beno, who was extremely delighted that he contested from the constituency where she resided, when she met Stalin during campaigning and requested him to visit her house on her birthday”.

Of course long history; but to be kept in memory!

Dear brothers and sisters,
There are reports in all dailies that Chief Minister Jayalalitha on 13.6.2014 has written letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Cauvery Management Board should be immediately constituted. The same Chief Minister Jayalalitha three days back on 10.6.2014 issued a lengthy statement in reply to me.
She had issued that statement in reply to my question as to why she could not invite the representatives of all parties in Tamil Nadu and talk to them like the Karnataka Chief Minister doing so about the setting up of the CMB. In that statement she had said that the Prime Minister kindly listened to the demand she submitted and assured to do the needful. After telling that the Prime Minister was in the mind of helping Tamil Nadu, setting up the CMB was a part of the award of the Cauvery Tribunal and the Centre required some time to implement it, if she had written letter in three days for immediately setting up the CMB, has she forgotten her writing in the statement on 10th that the Prime Minister should be given time?
In the letter to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Jayalalitha has unnecessarily dragged the DMK to feud. As usual she has alleged that the previous DMK rule did not press the Centre to notify the final draft of the tribunal in the central gazette. It seems she could not get sleep if she did not find fault with the DMK in any issue like Cauvery, Katchatheevu or Sri Lanka! How many times will she accuse the DMK on Cauvery issue and I reply to it?
Jayalalitha said in the Assembly itself as if only because of her unrelenting efforts that the interim report of the Cauvery Tribunal was obtained. It was only when the DMK was in power that a letter itself was written to the Centre on 17.2.1970 for setting up a Cauvery Tribunal. It was only during DMK rule that a resolution was adopted in the Assembly on 1971 for setting up a tribunal.
Only when the DMK was in power that an all-party leaders meeting was held on 27.7.1989 and a resolution to request the Centre to set up the Tribunal was adopted. But leaders of parties except the Jayalalitha-led ADMK participated in it.
After V.P.Singh assumed charge as Prime Minister on 2.12.1989, I wrote letter demanding setting up of tribunal. On V.P.Singh asking me to adopt a resolution about it in the Assembly and send it, again a resolution was adopted in the House on the need for the tribunal on 24.4.1990. Only as a result of that resolution, the tribunal was set up on 2.6.1990 during DMK rule when I was the Chief Minister.
Only during DMK rule on 28.7.1990 that a petition was filed in the Tribunal demanding interim award. On 5.1.1991 the Tribunal held that it had no power to issue an interim award. A case was filed in the Supreme Court on 10.1.1991 during DMK rule for its order whether or not the tribunal had the power to issue an interim award and the SC held that the Tribunal had the power. It was only because of that judgment obtained by the DMK rule that the Tribunal issued interim award on 25.6.1991. It was in the meanwhile that the DMK government was dismissed on 31.1.1991 and Jayalalitha came to power. Although the interim award was notified in the Central gazette during her regime, there were no results. During her regime from 1991-1996, no effort whatsoever was taken to get the interim award implemented.
After the DMK came to power in 1996, in my letters to the Prime Minister on 9.7.1997, 23.7.1997, 29.9.1997, 1.11.1997 and 6.11.1997 and in person on 27.7.1997, I requested for finalizing the plan and notifying it gazette to avoid delay in effecting the award of the Tribunal. Moreover, a petition also was filed in the Supreme Court by the Tamil Nadu government on 10.11.1997 to issue such a directive to the Centre. Once again I requested the Prime Minister through letters on 28.3.1998, 6.4.1998 and 31.5.1998 and in person on 7.4.1998 to finalise the draft plan and notify in the gazette.
On 21.7.1998 the Supreme Court firmly ruled that even after 15 months of the Centre assuring to solve the issue amicably still no amenable solution had been evolved, and this condition could not be allowed to prolong.
On 28.7.1998, Prime Minister Vajpayee wrote to me asking me to participate in a meeting in PMO on 6.8.1998 to discuss about Cauvery issue. On 3.8.1998 a meeting of leaders of all political parties in TN was convened and it was decided that I could participate in the meeting. But Jayalalitha issued a statement that I should not go to that meeting.
It was at the end of that two day meeting conducted by Prime Minister Vajpayee that on 7.8.1998 during DMK rule an agreement to implement the interim order was reached. According to that agreement it was decided that 205 TMC water as said in the interim award should be released and a Cauvery River Authority led by the Prime Minister and consisting of chief ministers of four states would be set up. That agreement was hailed by leaders like C.Subramaniam, G.K.Moopanar, N.Sankaraiah, R.Nallakannu, AbdusSamad, M.A.Lathif, KumariAnandan, Tindivanam Ramamurthy, R.M.Veerappan, G.A.Vadivelu, Ila.Ganesan, S.Thirunavukkarasu and Bishop Esra.Sargunam and dailies The Hindu, Indian Express, Dinamani, Viduthalai, Theekkadir, The Times of India and Hindustan Times and journals such as Kalki, Kumudam, Saavi, Thuglaq, AnandaVikatan and Kungumam, This is the true history.
Not only that; when leaders of all parties and dailies hailed this historic agreement, Jayalalitha did not welcome it and said they reject it and won’t accept it.
It was BJP Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee who paved the way for the agreement and he was then in the ADMK alliance. Still, he invited me, not in the alliance, and found out an amicable settlement. But you know what the leader of ADMK, a constituent of the Central government, told newspersons about the agreement?  She said “Vajpayee has succumbed to the ploy of Karunanidhi on Cauvery issue. We reject the agreement reached by both of them”.
The final award of the Tribunal was released on 5.2.2007 under the DMK rule. This award was welcomed and statements issued by the then TNCC President M.Krishnaswamy, DK President K.Veeramani, VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan, CPM State Secretary N.Varadarajan, CPI State Secretary D.Pandian, Cauvery Delta Irrigation Farmers Association General Secretary Ranganathan and K.S.Natarajan on behalf of peasants and Workers Party.
But as usual ADMK General Secretary Jayalalitha issued a statement saying the final award was “unacceptable award” and “Karunanidhi could not get for Tamil Nadu the just award to be secured from the Tribunal in Cauvery issue. Accepting moral responsibility DMK government should resign”.
The same Jayalalitha now claims that only she strove for the notification of final award in the Central gazette and that the DMK did not make any effort.
Even at the time of release of the final award of the Tribunal, not willing to take unilateral decision like Jayalalitha, the DMK government took decisions only by convening all-party leaders meetings on 19.2.2007and 15.4.2007. But now without convening any such all-party meetings honouring democratic tradition, Jayalalitha functioning as if whatever she thinks is the decision.
Hence the truth is only that Jayalalitha did not accept the interim and final awards of the Cauvery Tribunal. Did she at least accept the Cauvery River Authority?
The announcement of setting up of Cauvery River Authority was made on 11.8.1998. Jayalalitha told the Assembly on 2.4.2002 that “the Cauvery River Authority was non-functional and toothless authority; we came out of the BJP alliance not accepting that authority”.
Without thinking over in detail about the consequences and adamantly sticking to her stand, Jayalalitha decided and announced in the Cabinet meeting held on 21.6.2002, “the Cauvery River Authority, without any powers, is unable to effectively execute the award of the Cauvery Tribunal. Hence Tamil Nadu will not participate in the meetings of this authority henceforth”.
 It was Jayalalitha who said in July 2002 that they would boycott Cauvery Authority. On the next day she said “let us see if invited”. But as far I am concerned, even when not in power, I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Vajpayee on 5.7.2002 to immediately convene the authority meeting. In his reply on 10.7.2002 to my letter of 5.7.2002, the Prime Minister said he would look into it. Accordingly the CRA was convened.
At the meeting of the CRA participated by the PM on 27.8.2002, instead of finding way to get water by holding cordial talks and forgetting the urgent importance of the issue, Jayalalitha, with her own ill-temper, walked of the meeting in the middle of proceedings. On 29.11.2002 again the CRA meeting was held and Karnataka Chief Minister reached Delhi the previous day itself. But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha cancelled her Delhi trip itself keep telling all along that she would come. Loss for whom? Only for farmers of Tamil Nadu!
Meanwhile, the Bench of the Supreme Court took serious objection to the letter of Jayalalitha to the Prime Minister stating her lack of faith in the CRA chaired by the Prime Minister and directed the counsel for Tamil Nadu to withdraw that defamatory letter within four days. Counsel for Tamil Nadu and senior advocate K.K.Venugopal told the Bench that “Tamil Nadu had full faith in the Prime Minister and the CRA chaired by him. TN Chief Minister Jayalalitha would again write a letter to the Prime Minister conveying faith in the CRA and withdrawing the earlier letter”.
Accordingly in the letter written to the Prime Minister on 16.11.2002 Jayalalitha had said that she had great personal respect for the Prime Minister and forgetting all she had already stated she had full faith in the CRA.
If the conduct of Jayalalitha ignoring the interests of delta district farmers at every stage in the Cauvery river water issue, is to be compiled and said,
Even when the interim award of the Tribunal was released, she said only if Karnataka released water on its own we would get it.
She sent reply after nine months delay to a letter from the Centre on the implementation of the interim award.
During her regime from 1991 to 1996, she did not make any effort for implementing interim award.
It was Jayalalitha who stated in a petition to Prime Minister V.P.Singh on behalf of the ADMK that the Cauvery Agreement lapsed in 1974.
Without participating in the CRA meeting on 29.11.2002 she cancelled it. Thus we can go on telling.
Jayalalitha, under the impression that the world would have forgotten this date-wise incidents and hence she could tell anything, is trying to mudsling on me. The DMK might have lost victory chance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. But from the very fact that whether writing letter to the Prime Minister or issuing statements, Jayalalitha’s mind revolved around the DMK, the world will understand for whom is the real victory!
Affectionately,
M.K.

Inefficiency exposed!

In an unprecedented step, the Madras High Court disposed of 212 long pending habeas corpus petitions (HCPs) relating to detentions under the stringent Goondas Act on a day single day on June 14.
Even though the day was a regular holiday for the court, a special sitting of a division bench, comprising Justice V Dhanapalan and Justice G. Chokkalingam, was held for the disposal of the habeas corpus petitions filed by the detenue over a period of time seeking to set aside their detentions. Altogether 543 petitions were listed for hearing on the day. The bench started hearing at 10.30 AM and before 2.00 PM 220 petitions were heard and verdict delivered.
The bench allowed 157 habeas corpus petitions, closed another 55 based on the government’s contention that these detention orders were revoked by the Board constituted by it to review them. Hearing on the remaining petitions have been posted for the next week due to insufficient documents and relatives of the detenues not turning up on the day.
The court took up the HCPs in the wake of a PIL filed by advocate P. Pughalenthi, also the Director of Prisoners Rights Forum, praying for constitution of a special bench for the disposal of the petitions.
The petitioner referred to an agitation by the prisoners in the Puzhal Central Prison here in April last against their continued detention and submitted that even though the total detention period under the Act was 12 months, they cannot be forced to complete the entire period when they have approached the court by means of petition under article 226 of Constitution challenging the detention orders.
The petitioner further alleged that when a detenue was forced to undergo more than half of the period of total detention in prison due to non-availability of Judges or due to the pendency of his case in the court for any reason whatsoever, his right of speedy justice was grossly violated. He further claimed non-constitution of a special bench for deciding all these HCPs would be violative of Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution.
This news exposes the hollowness of the ADMK regime in invoking the Goondas Act, which is usually invoked against habitual offenders. Despite detaining so many under this Act purportedly to prevent occurrence of crimes, there is no respite from crimes like murders, thefts, robberies, sexual violence, cyber crimes, video piracies etc.,  in the State.
The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-offenders, Forest-offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982; “Video Pirates” was added by Act 32 of 2004), Section 2(f) states “goonda means a person, who either by himself or as a member of or leader of a gang habitually commits, or attempts to commit or abets the commission of offence, punishable under Chapter XVI or Chapter XVII or Chapter XXII of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860)”.
This provision was introduced by ADMK founder MGR when he was Chief Minister in 1982.
The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-offenders, Forest-offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982; “Video Pirates” was added by Act 32 of 2004), Section 2(f) states “goonda means a person, who either by himself or as a member of or leader of a gang habitually commits, or attempts to commit or abets the commission of offence, punishable under Chapter XVI or Chapter XVII or Chapter XXII of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860)”.
In September 2011, Kalaignar said in a statement, “Persons causing disturbance to law and order, those indulging in flesh trade, kidnap and illicit liquor can be detained under this and cannot seek bail immediately. They have to remain in prison for one year. In the first 100 days of the ADMK rule, 323 persons have been detained under Goondas Act”.
The detention of so many persons under the Act must have been possible only if there was a sudden spurt in incidents of crime or that the Act must have been “misused”.
“Basically, Goondas Act is against human rights. Considerable thought should be given before imposing it. But one cannot understand how a provision that has to be imposed on hardened criminals is used indiscriminately”.
Ever since the ADMK came to power in May 2011, this preventive detention law is being used thoughtlessly only to be regularly quashed by the High Court. The total inefficiency and indifference of the police and law departments of the ADMK government has been exposed with the High Court on a single day disposing of 212 long pending habeas corpus petitions (HCPs) relating to detentions under the stringent Goondas Act.           r

Can any Jaya supporter vouch for her honesty?

As in many other aspects, lending support to and defending someone is also in two ways, directly and indirectly. As far as ADMK functionaries and cadre are concerned, the former have some monetary axe to grind in pretentiously defending and supporting their leader Jayalalitha, because only as long as they are in the good books of her they could reap the ‘benefits’ of office or position. But the latter are too naïve. They are the direct supporters of Jayalalitha.
There is another sub-section of faceless supporters of Jayalalitha, who are very active in social media, and defend her indefensible actions due to their inexplicable subjective abhorrence for the DMK, more particularly for Kalaignar. They are another sub-section of direct supporters.
There are another section of Jayalalitha supporters, who are lending her the most needed indirect support. They are more dangerous to the society and people of Tamil Nadu than the direct supporters of her. They are operating in political parties/outfits and largely in the media. The former, the likes of Pazha Nedumaran, D. Pandian, Vaiko, some self-proclaimed neo-‘Tamil nationalists’ et al. are rabid Kalaignar baiters who wait in the wings to jump on even remote chances to take on Kalaignar or the DMK. To a large extent they have made it their profession for existence or means of livelihood. They have sections of dailies, periodicals and television channels which are waiting to readily publish/air prominently whatever they regurgitate ad nauseam. They never even remotely speak or write a word against Jayalalitha under any circumstances.
The other section of indirect supporters of Jayalalitha in the media are more harmful than the above mentioned section, as they, by their establishment purportedly for emanating news and opinions without any bias or partisanship, could effectively mislead the public opinion with their partisan coverage of news and views. For instance, in the last three years, the newspapers, periodicals and television channels give widest coverage to the statements (which are invariably attacks against the DMK and Kalaignar) and announcements of Chief Minister Jayalalitha. But the counters issued by the DMK and Kalaignar are rarely published/telecast and if at all they do so, they are cursory, remote and insignificant. As they do in the case of the announcements of other governments including those of the previous DMK government, the media never care to do follow up and find out whether the announcements of Jayalalitha become realities. As a result, the reader-viewer people are brain-washed to believe that whatever Jayalalitha says are correct in the absence of counters from the concerned and all her announcements are implemented. If Thanthai Periyar, well known for blunt speaking of truth, were alive he would have called these elements, who know truth very well but still emanate lies and concoctions, as scoundrels!
But the same sections magnify even remote setbacks for the DMK and prophesy doomsday for the party. While they carry out ‘investigations’ after ‘investigations’ vying with the CBI and other investigation authorities and pronounce ‘verdicts’ ahead of courts in cases connected with DMK functionaries making mountains out of molehills castigating the whole party organisation as ‘corrupt’, they voluntarily close their eyes to the ongoing manoeuvres of the ‘queen of corruption’ Jayalalitha in courts in her bid to at least postpone convictions. They do not question the honesty of her and her associates but inhumanly subject to scrutiny the illness of an old lady connected with the DMK. Under what journalistic ethics can they in Tamil Nadu defend their conduct?
When the media, without any sense of shame and hesitation, projected Jayalalitha as one of the contenders for the post of Prime Minister of the nation and the so-called ‘well-informed and enlightened’ columnists and commentators vomited reems of newsprint and hours of telecast on the fineness of her prime ministerial material, did they ever give thought to what is basically required for administrator, honesty? Of course, they as well as any of others would not be and should not be interested in honesty in her personal life. But being in public life, that too as one who is presiding over the regime in the State and with insatiable urge for leading the nation, should not her honesty be subjected to scrutiny?
In her political career, can any of her defenders vouch for the honesty of her ascendancy in her party, the ADMK? Even her ‘mentor’ MGR, who initiated her into political career, was completely disenchanted with her intrigues and directed his party cadre to dissociate from her. After his demise how she captured the leadership of the party, whose assistance she took to do it and how she betrayed them later etc., are well known to these journalists and columnists.
Jayalalitha and her supporters always claim that the cases against her were foisted by the DMK rule were politically vindictive and without any basis. If that were so, she could have straightaway face them in the courts and prove her innocence in a straight forward manner like those in the DMK without dragging the case for years together by seeking hundreds of adjournments on flimsy reasons and moving on appeals after appeals to higher courts!
Did any of them dare to question her honesty when she disowned her signature in the documents relating to the purchase of TANSI properties in the court, under sworn affidavit, and later agreeing to return the property illegally acquired, which in effect was denouncing her own earlier statement. Should not these enlightened journalists and columnists have questioned her capacity to preside over a regime and expected to affix her signature on various papers relating to governance and administration, with such a personal background?
Now with the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalitha & co., reaching the final stage, the panic reaction of her in trying to drag the trial will remain as a dark chapter in the history of Indian judiciary. But the dailies and television channels in Tamil Nadu have voluntarily imposed blackout on the developments in the Bangalore special court.
Can any supporter (direct and indirect) of Jayalalitha vouch for her honesty in facing these cases? It is a challenge!
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Narendra Modi writes to Kalaignar thanking him

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked DMK President Kalaignar M Karunanidhi for wishing him a “satisfying” tenure.
A day after Modi was elected as BJP parliamentary leader and was invited by President Pranab Mukherjee to take oath as PM, Kalaingar had written a letter to him congratulating him and wishing him a “satisfying prime ministerial tenure.”
In his brief reply to Kalaignar’s letter, Modi said,
“I thank you for your letter of felicitations. I am humbled by the faith reposed in us by the people. I am sure that we will rise up to the high expectations of the people”.
“It is admirable that you have risen from a humble beginning through innate intelligence and hard and sincere work,” Kalaignar had written in his letter.

“Raise voice for the protection of Muslims in Lanka” - kalaignar

Worried by the attacks on Muslims in Sri Lanka by Sinhala-Buddhist groups, DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi has urged the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to voice their concern for the safety of the minority communities in the island nation.
In a statement on June 18, he said from the day of receiving the power of governance from the British, the majoritarian Sinhalese , instead of giving due protection to the minorities of Tamils, Muslims and Christians and carrying them along according to their constitutional norms, were only following the attitude of conflict with them. 
It was because of this attitude of conflict of the Lankan regime that after the persecution of the minority ethnic Tamils over the years, the other minority group of Muslims, also Tamil speaking, were being targeted now.
In the clashes between the followers of Buddhism and Muslims in Myanmar in 2012, about 300 persons were killed. As a echo of this incident and following it violent incidents were occurring between these two sections in Sri Lanka also since 2012, Kalaignar noted.
Three persons were killed and nearly 100 people were injured in ethnic violence after a Buddhist majority nationalist group staged a rally in Muslim-dominated areas of Beruwala, Dharga Town and Aluthgama on the south-western coast of Sri Lanka on June 15. Moreover houses and shops belonging to Muslims and mosques were set on fire.
In the meanwhile, when Lanka’s Junior Investment Promotion Minister Faiser Mustapha, a Muslim, was trapped when he visited a college in Beruwela, a tourist town 60 km (35 miles) from the capital Colombo, where hundreds of Muslims had taken refuge from the violence.There were groups of people who did not allow the minister to move out of Jamia Naleemia (college), where hundreds of Muslims have come for safety. However, with the police help he came out after an hour. These attacks against Muslims were being carried out by Buddhists and government-supported groups.
While countries like the US had expressed concern over the riots that had left three persons dead and around 100 injured, the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government were yet to raise this issue even as various political parties and Muslim outfits were staging protests and getting arrested in the State, he said.
When following attacks on Tamils so far and completing genocide in Sri Lanka Muslims are also severely attacked, the Central and State governments here should come forward to raise voice for their protection, Kalaignar urged.
Attacks widespread: The legal and police system of the Sri Lankan State was indirectly aiding the Sinhala extremist mob to incite violence against Muslims in Aluthgama and Durgah-nagar in Kalutura district, Muslim reporters from Kalutara said on June 17. The shut-down of mobile communications and the curfew imposed by the Sri Lankan State also strengthened the hands of the Sinhala Buddhist extremist Bodu Bala Sena mobs that went amok on innocent Tamil-speaking Muslim villagers in Beruwala, Alutgama, Kotapitiya, Meeripenna and Adigarigoda. In the meantime, journalists, Muslim politicians and activists who rushed to Kalurara to witness the anti-Muslim violence were blocked at road barriers. Even those who attended the funeral of the three slain Muslim youth were also attacked June 16 evening by a Sinhala extremist mob.
Meanwhile, Asad Sally of the Islamic Solidarity Front said that the violence against Muslims spreads to several other parts of the island too. Today the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force) is going to create a problem in Badulla and going to organise a meeting in Mavanella of Kegalle district, he said.  He had warned the government in advance about such a planned violence in Beruwela, Sally, who was a former deputy Mayor of Colombo, said.
Sally had forewarned Colombo’s authorities on allowing the kind of rallies organized by the BBS at Aluthgama. The Colombo government is therefore responsible for the violence, he said.
The government could have stopped the violence in 5 minutes had they really wanted to stop it, he said. “The curfew is only for the Muslims,” he said. This was a pre-planned and arranged affair of the government, Sally accused. Colombo wants to start another war with Muslims and Chritistans, he said.
The Sinhala extremist BBS has been waging a systematic campaign against the Tamil-speaking Muslims in Beruwala for a long time. The extremist organisation had called for a massive rally on 15th June.
As the arrangements were under way for the rally, a Buddhist monk and his driver traveling through Aluthgama on 13th June quarrelled with three Muslim youth around 2:00 p.m. The Buddhist monk was abusive to the Muslim youth for standing along the roadside. The Muslim youth also quarrelled with the monk and his driver for the insult. However, on his way back, the Buddhist monk filed a complaint with the Sri Lankan police that a Muslim mob had assaulted him. In turn, the SL police at Alutgama detained the three Muslim youth and the SL court remanded them for 14 days. At the same time, a rumour was spread by the extremist BBS to Sinhala mob that Muslims had attacked a monk at Durgah-nagar.
On 15th evening, after the mass gathering by the BBS at Alutgama, Sinhala Buddhist extremists were ordered to march towards Muslim villages. The extremists were chanting slogans against Muslims. The mob, armed with guns, swords and petrol bombs, was throwing stones at a mosque on their way to Muslim settlement in Dargah-nakar. Muslim villagers also responded by attacking the BBS-led extremists. While the attacks were taking place, the mobile communication remained cut in the entire area. Several houses were attacked by the mob.
At the same time another Sinahala extremist mob attacked the mosque at Adigarigoda on 15th June. Three Muslim youth, who were defending the Sinhala mob from attacking the mosque were shot and killed as the British-trained counter-insurgency commandos of the Sri Lankan Police deployed in Kalutara were watching the unfolding violence against the Muslims.
Even on June 16, when the SL Police claimed that they had brought the situation under control, there were attacks on three houses of Muslims at Welippana in the surroundings of Beruwala, Alutgama and Durgah-nagar. The Sri Lankan Police also imposed a curfew. While the Muslim men who had gathered at the mosques were unable to return to their families, the Sinhala mob entered the village attacking the families and the properties of the Muslims. Journalists who went to report the violence were blocked and refused entry citing curfew and security concerns by the SL police.

Kalaignar writes to Modi on Cauvery Management Board

With the debate on the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board picking up heat, DMK President Kalaignar M Karunanidhi on June 14 wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to immediately constitute the board as mandated by law. The board will monitor the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka reservoirs.
“I wish to state that immediately after the notification of the order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the ad hoc bodies constituted to supervise the implementation of the final award will be placed by a board, which will continuously supervise the implementation of the order,” said Kalaignar.
Blaming the Tamil Nadu government for not taking all parties on board on the issue, Kalaignar said, “I asked the State government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and approach the Centre together for justice. I felt that such a meeting will exhibit the unity of the people, particularly farmers. But the government did not heed to my request.”
The letter stated:
“Dear Prime Minister,
Vanakkam. I write this letter to seek your intervention and your instruction to the Ministry of Water Resources to form the Cauvery Management Board, as mandated by Law.
In this context, I wish to state that immediately after the notification of the order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the ad-hoc bodies constituted to supervise the implementation of the final award will be replaced by a Cauvery Management Board, which will continuously supervise the implementation of the order.
I have asked the Government of Tamil Nadu, to convene an all Party Meeting to discuss this issue and unitedly approach the Government of India for Justice. I felt that such a Meeting will exhibit the unity of the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly the farmers of Tamil Nadu, who are suffering for want of sufficient water for farming. But the Government of Tamil Nadu did not heed to my request.
I also wish to bring to your notice that for the past three years, after the present A.D.M.K. Party was elected to rule the State, “Kuruvai* crop season had failed because of lack of Water and many of the farmers in the Cauvery Delta Region had committed suicide.
I also wish to state that, the issue pending before the Supreme Court of India is no bar to constitute Cauvery Management Board, because the Supreme Court has not granted interim injunctions to the order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Hence, I once again request you to take immediate steps to form Cauvery Management Board and save the Tamil Nadu farmers from their sufferings.”

Hastily showing keenness on link language issue will result in wastage of time and scattering of attention

Stating that when constructive efforts are required to fulfil the unanimous expectations of various nationalities in India, hastily showing keenness on link language issue will result in wastage of time and scattering of attention, DMK President Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi on June 19 told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the desire and appeal of all well-wishers of the nation is that he should concentrate and work for carrying forward the economic development and social progress of the country.
In a statement under the heading ‘Caution required in Link Language issue’ on June 19, Kalaignar said,
“An English daily (The Economic Times) has published a news analysis on 17.6.2014 under the heading “Directive in line with preference of PM Narendra Modi- Home Ministry asks babus to use Hindi on Social Networking sites”. For the first time the Union Home Ministry has decided to issue a directive that the government officials should use only Hindi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chooses to speak only in Hindi in his diplomatic meetings with foreign leaders. As per his (Modi’s) preference, government officials should use only Hindi to post their comments on social networking sites. On 27.5.2014, the Union Home Ministry has issued the order for making the use of Hindi compulsory in social networking sites by the government and government officials. It is ordered that government employees and officials of all Ministries, Departments, Corporations or Banks, who have made official accounts on ‘Twitter’, ‘Facebook’, ‘Google’, ‘YouTube’ or ‘Blogs’ should use Hindi, or both Hindi and English but giving priority to Hindi. This directive must be brought to the notice of all government officials concerned and its implementation must be ensured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been tweeting in Hindi, pointed out in the news analysis of the English daily.
Nobody can deny that this is the beginning of the action for imposing Hindi against the wish of one through a government order. The history has registered in detail the great uprising and agitations that arose when Hindi was made a compulsory subject in 1938 and at the time of announcement of the Hindi Official Language Act coming into force in 1965. The battle fields of language have not yet dried up.
Nobody has forgotten the warning of Mootharignar Rajaji telling “Article 17 of the Constitution- clause on official language- should be compulsorily thrown into the Arabian sea.” and “This is only an Act turning Tamil people, the good patriotic and intelligent Indian citizens, into separatists”. 
During the debate on the motion of thanks for the President’s address in the Rajya Sabah on 4.3.1965, in the presence of the senior leader of the BJP and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Perarignar Anna explained so as to make all sections realise and accept saying, “Till the language issue is thoroughly studied and a satisfactory decision is reached, let English continue to be an official language; let English remain till all national languages become official languages; thereafter, let us leave it time for the opportunity of one of the Indian languages develop and become the link language”. Can this be forgotten?
As far as the DMK is concerned, besides accepting numerous loses for defending our mother tongue Tamil language, opposing Hindi imposition, it is also determined to continue to work on that path. We have been continuously urging that the assurance given by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that English would continue as Union official language till the non-Hindi speaking people wished for and Hindi would not be imposed on people speaking other languages. In his address to the joint session of Parliament in 2004, the then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said that a study would be undertaken on making all Indian languages which were official languages in States as official languages at the Centre. Still, so far no effort has been taken for it. The Centre should bring the amendment required in the Official Languages Act so as to make all Indian languages which are official languages in States as official languages of the Centre. On that basis, Tamil language, the first language of Dravidian languages family with literary and cultural richness, should be made one of the Central official languages. This is the stand taken by the DMK for long.
Without treating all languages found in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution with the aim of preserving the unity and integrity of India, attempting to give preference and first place to one among them Hindi will be considered as the first stage of the attempt to make non-Hindi speaking Indian citizens as second class citizens. When constructive efforts are required to fulfil the unanimous expectations of various nationalities in India, hastily showing keenness on link language issue will result in wastage of time and scattering of attention. Hence it is the desire and appeal of all well-wishers of the nation is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should concentrate and work for carrying forward the economic development and social progress of the country”.