Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy | Cho Ramaswamy

Published on 28-02-2008 In National

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Q & A by Cho Ramaswamy

GL Rajan, Chennai 42

Question: What is your take on Karunanidhi's claim that prices of essential commodities in Tamil Nadu are lower than those prevailing in other states?

Answer: A few weeks back he claimed that current price levels were lower than what prevailed during the earlier [AIADMK] regime. It had no takers. Now he says that they are cheaper than other states. When this averment too is eventually rejected, perhaps he may compare them with the rates in a few other [advanced] countries!

KN Balakrishnan, Chennai 91

Question: Reacting to allegations indicating Tamil Nadu government's softness towards the LTTE, Congress high command quipped, "Karunanidhi is a respected leader [within the] United Progressive Alliance [coalition arrangement at the centre]. Comment.

Answer: A traffic cop's ignoring a motorist driving beyond the yellow median if the offender seems to be "respectable and elderly" does not mean that the transgression did not occur at all.

S Pakkirisami, Tiruvarur 1

Question: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has bemoaned newspapers' publishing 'incomplete versions' of the proceedings. Comment.

Answer: Editors' efforts to save their readers of boredom by paraphrasing long-winded repetitious speeches cannot be faulted.

SK Nasser, Thiruppattinam

Question: Do you think Jayalalithaa believes that she can come back to power?

Answer: She would indeed benefit if she does so. But, it seems like she expects power to chase and cajole her into accepting it as if that is its bounden duty!

M Gayatri, Tiruchi 17

Question: Whose victory in the ensuing US elections will be to our advantage?

Answer: Though the Democrats appear to be favourable to us, they oppose us on vital issues like nuclear power; WTO prescribed labour policy, quotas for imported goods from India etc. On the contrary, the Republican Party has been known to support us on these and much more. Therefore, its victory would be advantageous for us. But, I have no way of knowing as to whether it would happen at all.

N Kalidas, Chidambaram 2

Question: The Law Commission has recommended that males' marriageable age should be lowered to 18. Comment.

Answer: One can legally begin to vote after turning 18, which means that adults can invite trouble upon themselves from then on. On that basis, perhaps the commission may have felt that one can come to marital grief as well at that age!

K Rajni Priyan, Kalambur

Question: What is your opinion about our new pace bowler Ishant Sharma?

Answer: Experts, former players and journalists – Indians and Australians alike - have praised his talent. On television Sharma appears to have promise. Let us see how he performs in different conditions.

Question: Has any politician ever praised you?

Answer: On different issues, various politicians have endorsed my views from time to time. I do not want to embarrass anybody by naming them.

R Manakavalan, Coimbatore 45

Question: Does anybody have the power to question the rulings of legislative assemblies' speakers?

Answer: When ruling parties/coalitions decide to do so, speakers can be removed. Else, notwithstanding tall claims of presiding officers, courts can sit in judgement over transgressions of the statute in any House. Though this has not been really tested, that is what the law of the land explicitly says.

V Paramasivam, Chennai 25

Question: Despite allowing his party's conference, Sarath Kumar alleged that the police did not accord him adequate protection. Comment.

Answer: If you juxtapose the crowd attracted by Kumar with that of a DMK gathering, the reasonableness of his argument can be understood.

M Serfuddin, Paramakudi

Question: "Karunanidhi's averment that fans do not make a political party will be proved wrong soon," says Vijayakanth. Comment.

Answer: Vijayakanth's argument is based on the history created by MGR which had once proved to be Karunanidhi's undoing.

V Chitra, Gummidipoondi

Question: You have been quoted praising Karunanidhi's continuous, sustained efforts. Do you admire any of his other accomplishments?

Answer: I have never limited my praise to Karunanidhi's political work. His capability, oratory, penmanship, sense of humour, debating skills... have been often hailed by me.

KN Balakrishnan, Chennai 91

Question: Secularism, national progress and Tamil Nadu's welfare are the three aspects that decided the fundamentals of the DMK-led [Democratic Progressive] Alliance, says Peter Alphonse. Comment.

Answer: Isn't that a fact now? By his relentless tirade against Hinduism, ensuring the meteoric rise of the political career graph of [Union Minister] Raja and Kanimozhi and the welfare of his immediate family, Karunanidhi has fulfilled all the criteria cited by Alphonse!

I Martin, Chitlapakkam

Question: While inbuilt safeguards to ensure rights of minorities are the surest signs of a globally acceptable welfare state, the BJP wants them to be nationally isolated and oppressed. What is your take on this?

Answer: In my opinion, the BJP too wants parity between the majority and the minority by arguing that the latter cannot enjoy special privileges denied to the former in a progressive, politically mature state. Arguments to the contrary are neither mature nor progressive but mere electoral madness.

R Mohan, Theni 1

Question: Only experts ought to proffer opinions based on fact as to whether the Sethu Project should take an alternative route, says CPI leader Nallakkannu. Comment.

Answer: I entirely agree with him. But has anyone taken such opinions seriously so far?

G Kuppuswamy, Shankara Puram

Question: Did you notice that Dr Ramadoss suspended [PMK] party functionaries who erected digital banners and cut-outs for a week?

Answer: It is indeed a praiseworthy gesture. Has any other party ever undertaken such a measure?

R Valayapathi, Thottakkurichi

Question: Don't you think that the demand for censoring television serials just like the movies is justifiable?

Answer: It is an impractical suggestion. While it is easy to censor movies after completion, insisting on ongoing serials and news programmes to undergo a similar treatment will only result in chaos for all the channels.

N Shanmugam, Tiruvannamalai

Question: If the Prime Minister [Dr Manmohan Singh] is correct while supporting the Sikhs' demand to sport turbans [in France] and the Tamil Nadu CM can argue for the rights for ethnic Tamils in Malaysia, why can't I root for Maharashtrians, Raj Thackeray has been quoted as asking. Comment.

Answer: Comparing our stands to buttress ethnic Indians' rights abroad with pure regional jingoism is fundamentally wrong. Further, neither the PM nor the CM spewed venom against others while supporting causes dear to them. Raj Thackeray whipped up local sentiments and advocated the chasing away of non-Maharashtrians from his state.

S Purushottama Rajan, Paramakudi

Question: Denial of worshipping rights to women in the Sabarimala hill shrine is ultra vires of the Constitution. They should be accorded a separate season for praying there, the Kerala government has said. Comment.

Answer: If one follows a similar yardstick, other issues concerning different religions may crop up. To cite the Constitution in such matters is not correct at all.

N Babu Arul Joshi, Kalakkad

Question: Are you advocating an alternative path for the Sethu Project's path or are you opposing it totally?

Answer: In my opinion, the project has no worthwhile use and hence I am opposed to it.

KN Balakrishnan, Chennai 91

Question: Do you think that the law and order situation is Tamil Nadu has worsened to the extent of justifying the state government's dismissal?

Answer: No.

(Translated from Thuglak by TSV Hari)

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