Between you & me

CHENNAI

THAT THE Tamil Nadu Government had bitten off more than it could chew became obvious within hours after the derring-do of the police at Mr. Karuanidhi's house. Those behind the arrest may have felt a mild satisfaction at the brutalisation by the police of the former Chief Minister and other DMK leaders, but the universal indignation and obloquy that followed must have stopped them in their tracks.

The police broke every rule in the book making the arrest. First of all they broke into the former Chief Minister's house at dead of night - something that has been expressly prohibited by the Supreme Court. Incidentally, several remarked that the police action reminded them of the Emergency days. But it took those of us old enough to the days of Stalin and Hitler when stormtroopers in hobnailed shoes knocked at the doors of political opponents at midnight.

Secondly, they pushed around the women - their own videotape proves this (a good question would be where the videotape, released after nearly 40 hours in two versions, came from. An internationally-renowned forensic specialist, Dr. P. Chandrasekharan, has been bad-mouthed by honchos of the Government for suggesting it may have been doctored). The Principal Sessions Judge had ordered that Mr. Karunanidhi be first examined by doctors before being taken to jail, but the police flouted these explicit orders, and took him straight to jail. The Judge asked the police a memorable question in this regard which may well go down in legal annals: Is your heart made of muscle or mud. The police also disobeyed the Judge's order to take Mr. Stalin to the Chennai jail, but took him instead to the Madurai jail.

The Judge also took a dim view of the cases presented before him, and asked pointed questions to which prosecution had no adequate reply. (Incidentally, something about which not much has been said is that when the police made their assault on Mr. Karunanidhi's house, they cut off all telephone wires. This is an offence that should be looked into.) I need not go on. The newspapers have many more details into the police excesses of that Saturday night.

The Centre's reaction has been quick. The alliance that forms the Government at the Centre sent a delegation to study the situation, while the Home Ministry also sent one. The findings of the two were not substantially different. As a result the Home Ministry has sent a warning to the State Government, the principal item of which is taking action against the police personnel who indulged in excesses.

The State Government's response is to appoint a commission to go into the whole affair, and present its findings in three months. I have a sad feeling that much obfuscation and obliteration can occur during such a prolonged period - all that is required is to consider the events of 48 or 72 hours, which have been extremely well-documented. One should also take into account the ominous words of the Director General of Police that the police will stand by their people.

Where do we go from here? As I said last week, I continue to believe in the Chief Minister's intelligence and acumen. It is my hope that, after this episode which has certainly not redounded to her credit, she will realise that instead of brooding over revenge, she should use her enormous powers for the good of the people of the State. There is so much she can do instead of sending her sidekicks to look for spoilt rice. Assuming all goes well, and she has a full term of office, she could take steps to make the city self-sufficient in the supply of drinking water. She could eliminate slums and give slum-dwellers clean and sanitary quarters. She could get rid encroachments, and provide alternate accommodation. I am hoping that the people, instead of her obsequious Ministers, will sing her praises. It is entirely up to her.

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THE CONSUMERS Association of India, which has for more than two decades been educating the consumer on his rights, and fighting for them, is now publishing Consumer's Digest, an attractive bi- monthly, which deals with a whole gamut of subjects of interest to consumers, whatever their special concerns are.

The April-May issue, for instance, starts out with a very useful article on the basic rights of a consumer. Articles are devoted to standards for buildings, adulteration of petroleum, packaged foods, environment and health. There is a special article on how to choose an audio system. There is an article on how to talk to one's doctor intelligently. In all, Consumer's Digest is a valuable guide to present-day living, and I look forward to future issues. Those interested in the Digest should contact Consumers Association of India, 2/380, 1st main Rd, A.G.S. Colony, Kottivakkam, Chennai 600 041.

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AN EVENT that students and the general public look forward to every year is around the corner again. The Students' Book Fair will be held for the 16th year in succession from 28th July for 10 days, at the Emma Fougler Matriculation School, Meston Training College, Royapettah. Unlike other book fairs, the Student Book Fair is a movement for value education. The Fair takes a theme every year - for this year it is ``Peace Within: Harmony Around'' - around which are built a number of programmes and competitions, including an oratory contest, the winner of which gets a trip to London.

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I AM told this is a true story, Parthasarathy. Charlie Chaplin attended a contest to see who could do the best Chaplin imitation. Dozens of contestants, all wearing the battered black hat and baggy suit and carrying the trademark cane, got up and did their best to simulate the famous walk and two or three of the movements that had made Chaplin known throughout the world. Without identifying himself, Chaplin got up on the stage and did the routine. He got the third prize.

S. KRISHNAN

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