The Hindu : `Dravidian parties unprincipled, inconsistent'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Dravidian parties unprincipled, inconsistent'

By Our Special Correspondent

Coimbatore April 19 . Two top-level leaders of the CPI today lambasted the Dravidian parties questioning their secular credentials.

They also slammed the DMK ,the AIADMK and the MDMK for their ``unprincipled stand'' on and ``inconsistency'' in their fight against communalism.

While the CPI national secretary, D. Raja, responding to a question on his party ``switching sides'' frequently— alternating between the AIADMK and the DMK— contended that it was always consistent with its policy of fight against ``communalism''. ``But it is the Dravidian parties which are not consistent. And they are facing an ideological crisis .Otherwise how would they justify their aligning with the communal BJP''.

Mr. Raja also wondered why the AIADMK supreme, Jayalalithaa, took such a long time to demand the ouster of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

He squarely blamed the Dravidian parties for giving the BJP a foothold in the State.

The State CPI secretary, R. Nallakkannu, lamented that the Dravidian parties, in spite of being rivals,'' are vying with each other to join hands with the BJP''.

Ms. Jayalalithaa, was welcoming not only draconian measures such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act but also the economic policies of the NDA Govenrment.''Even the mini-budget the State Government presented some time ago was based on the policies of the Centre''. While the Centre had a Disinvestment Ministry,the State Government planned to set up a Disinvestment Commission.

Adverting to her demand for the ouster of Mr.Modi, ``which is not compatible with her current attitude towards the BJP,'' Mr. Nallakannu said, ``if she sticks this stand, it is good''.

Similarly, the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi ``does not have courage'' even to say anything about the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Despite claiming secular credentials, the Dravidian parties did not have the ``guts'' shown by the Telugu Desam on the Gujarat issue.

Asked whether he envisaged any realignment of forces in the changing political scenario in the State, Mr. Nallakannu admitted that the situation was quite ``fluid'' because of the ``inconsistent'' stand taken by the two major Dravidian parties. ``In the byelections ( in three Assembly constituencies), the BJP is our main opponent. Besides,we will not have any alliance with the Dravidian parties''.

What is your stand now that the Tamil Maanila Congress has demanded to merge with the Congress?

``We are closely watching the emerging situation.And the strategy to be adopted would be decided at the ongoing State council meeting''.

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