The latest controversy to have left me completely stumped and speechless is the one surrounding the remarks made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, calling Lord Ram a ‘drunkard and a big lie’. I quote from a report in the Hindustan Times, ‘Karunanidhi insisted that he was only repeating what Valmiki had said in his Ramayan. “Valmiki has called Ram a drunkard, who regularly used to drink intoxicants” he alleged.’
Whatever his views on the Sethusamudran Shipping Canal Project, he could not possibly be helping its cause by making derogatory remarks about arguably the most important religious figure of the majority of the people of the country. Nor will its implications be lost on him. And being the seasoned politician that he is, he would decidedly have a very good reason for taking such a drastic stand.
I don’t know the first thing about the regional politics of Tamil Nadu, or the composition of Mr Karunanidhi’s vote base, but I find it difficult to imagine that any community or people would be happy with their leader launching an attack on an important religious/ mythological figure of another community. What then could be his motivation?
I can’t help but think that the most important outcome of this controversy has been the fresh lease of life that it is likely to give to the BJP. It is a ripe opportunity for the BJP to be back in the news, which they have successfully exploited, handed as it was to them on a platter by the TN CM.
For the last few days, as I expect for the next few as well, the papers have been full of related news, the latest being the call for Mr Karunanidhi's beheading by a certain Mr Vedanti, a former BJP MP and described as a senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, a status denied him by the VHP working president, who has chosen to distance his organization from Mr Vedanti by claiming that he is not a VHP member at all.
The customary responses have been made, and new ones come in with every new quote, right from his arch rival J Jayalalitha to leaders of the BJP and the Congress. BJP leaders have gone to the extent of saying that this will be one of the issues that will lead to a mid term election, as early as the first half of 2008. Other right wing Hindu organizations are making the most of the opportunity as well, with quotes flying thick and strong from all quarters.
Everything is working like clockwork. Only, to what end?
Whatever his views on the Sethusamudran Shipping Canal Project, he could not possibly be helping its cause by making derogatory remarks about arguably the most important religious figure of the majority of the people of the country. Nor will its implications be lost on him. And being the seasoned politician that he is, he would decidedly have a very good reason for taking such a drastic stand.
I don’t know the first thing about the regional politics of Tamil Nadu, or the composition of Mr Karunanidhi’s vote base, but I find it difficult to imagine that any community or people would be happy with their leader launching an attack on an important religious/ mythological figure of another community. What then could be his motivation?
I can’t help but think that the most important outcome of this controversy has been the fresh lease of life that it is likely to give to the BJP. It is a ripe opportunity for the BJP to be back in the news, which they have successfully exploited, handed as it was to them on a platter by the TN CM.
For the last few days, as I expect for the next few as well, the papers have been full of related news, the latest being the call for Mr Karunanidhi's beheading by a certain Mr Vedanti, a former BJP MP and described as a senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, a status denied him by the VHP working president, who has chosen to distance his organization from Mr Vedanti by claiming that he is not a VHP member at all.
The customary responses have been made, and new ones come in with every new quote, right from his arch rival J Jayalalitha to leaders of the BJP and the Congress. BJP leaders have gone to the extent of saying that this will be one of the issues that will lead to a mid term election, as early as the first half of 2008. Other right wing Hindu organizations are making the most of the opportunity as well, with quotes flying thick and strong from all quarters.
Everything is working like clockwork. Only, to what end?
2 comments:
Hindus should be ashamed to listen to Karunanidhi.entire tamil literature is based on God and followers.
Kaunanidhi's father was a nayanakar in a temple.
DK and DMK has tickled the sleeping tiger of Hindu feelings.
They will face the music very badly.
I am taken not so much by the blog but the comment... its damn funny....
What funny is that Hindu tiger being asleep.....
Funnier still is the fact that Karu has the guts and the audacity to go near the tiger and tickle it..( Really a Karu Pandey)
And then the Tiger wakes up and will play Music for Karu....
( Well then we have a topic for discussion 'Was Mozart A Hindu')
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