Subverting Democracy
Monday, 1. October 2007 - 4:27 PM
Timeless political wisdom has proved that in India, the best way to get through unfavourable court verdicts is to take the fight to the streets. Karunanidhi has done it again.
Stung by the Supreme Court stay on the Tamil Nadu bandh called by the DMK-led state government, chief minister M Karunanidhi decided to opt for a bit of Gandhigiri on Sunday: He will now sit on a dawn-to-dusk hunger strike on Monday…
In directly defying the Supreme Court’s order, Karunanidhi has given voice to the reality that the DMK’s fortunes are downhill. It looks like the success of the Sethusamudram project is the only chance the DMK has before trying to come close to power the next time.
We cannot thank the Supreme Court enough for its definitive decree against DMK’s proposed bandh. An additional highlight is this order was passed on a Sunday. Obviously, the DMK had timed the bandh well. Only, it didn’t expect it to backfire this horribly.
Holding a rare sitting on a Sunday, the bench of Acting Chief Justice BN Aggrawal and P P Naolekar ordered that the DMK and its allies shall not go ahead with the bandh either on October 1 or any other date, as the bandh per se was illegal and unconstitutional in view of the court’s earlier ruling on the validity of bandhs.
Karunanidhi’s desperation is complete. From slamming Rama to threatening the UPA coalition, he has tried everything including this extreme step of defying the Supreme Court’s order. Predictably, he has attempted to disguise state-sponsored hooliganism as a "hunger strike," a move that the Opposition, AIADMK has quickly slammed.
AIADMK legal advisor N Jothi,MP, made the mention before a bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah andJustice P Jyothimani, that the government did not operate public transport,despite the apex court order.
They had also engaged goondas to threaten shop owners and commercial establishments to down their shutters, he said.
Meanwhile, Karunanidhi calls this cloak-and-dagger roguery as his "appeal to the public’s verdict." That’s putting it mildly. In his own words,
“I respect people’s decision more than any court’s verdict,†he said, addressing a meeting of party workers in Chennai.
Imagine the consequences if this kind of stuff was said in any other…err..functioning democracy in the world. And Karunanidhi surely knows how to obtain the right kind of "people’s decision." The bandh hunger strike is a time-tested method.
A careful observation of Karunanidhi’s posturing and statements reveals how he has tried to use every trick to ensure that he gets his way ever since the Supreme Court throttled the project. His desperation has only grown as every trick failed to elicit something favourable:
- Stoic silence followed by vague remarks on how the project will continue despite all obstacles
- Blame on the "communal forces"
- Blame on the AIADMK
- Abusing Rama mostly without basis (in his question of "which Engineering college did Rama pass out from?" lies the tacit acknowledgement that Rama did in fact exist.)
- Regurgitating the DMK’s long-buried Dravidian "ideology" to support the proposed ecological destruction
- Threatening to pull out of the UPA (doesn’t work anymore. Ask the Left.)
- This
bandhhunger strike.
In the wake of the latest Supreme Court rap, Karunanidhi’s desperation has reached hysterical proportions. As this report shows, he is now speaking in the hateful Hindi:
Hindustan hai desh hamara, jaan se hai humko pyaara, Hindi, Muslim Sikh Isaai, aapas mein hain bhai bhai  That’s Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, pioneer of the state’s anti-Hindi agitation, speaking the language he campaigned against many years ago – all to prove that he is secular and his comments on Lord Ram were not meant to hurt Hindu sentiments.(Ed: Italics in original)
Apparently his kind remarks about Rama (didn’t exist, mythical, Engineering college, Aryan racist, wife-abuser, meat-eater, etc) were not meant to hurt Hindu sentiments. Makes sense, like his religious analogy, an horrific departure from his avowed atheism:
In fact so flustered was the DMK chief on Sunday that he forgot about his much-vaunted atheism and took resort to religious metaphors to drive home his anguish. A visibly upset Karunanidhi told reporters that the Tamil Nadu bandh was intended to remove those Nandis (bulls)which obstruct the worship of the presiding deities in Shiva temples.
This is from the head of a party that has a record of breaking idols, garlanding Rama’s photos with footwear, and indulging in other assorted forms of worship. He has made his Guru, "Periyar" proud.
The ramifications of Karunanidhi’s approach for "people’s verdict" are beginning to pour in least of which is the Opposition baying for DMK’s blood. In its order, the Supreme Court had severely indicated that
If it is a bandh, then it is a breakdown of the Constitutional machinery.Your own resolution says that the programme on October 1 is intended to ensure complete cessation of all activities, then how can you say it is not a bandh?,†the bench asked the Tamil Nadu counsel. The bench brushed aside the claims of the state and the DMK that what was essentially intended was a public meeting. “Where is the public meeting? You show us. Your resolution say it is cessation of all activities and work. You want to show your popularity.Why do you want to close all educational institutions and commercial activities? Where will you then find people for your meetings?†the bench said.
And now DMK’s defiance has resulted in more serious consequences:
Enraged over the non-compliance of its order banning a general shutdown in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court Monday threatened the dismissal of the state government and warned that contempt of court proceedings may be initiated against Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the state chief secretary.
The Supreme Court should actually set a precedent by calling Karunanidhi’s bluff and actually dismissing the DMK government.
1. October 2007 - 5:50 PM
What a shame! I wish Supreme Court should take some action in this case. If law makers will not respect the laws themselves and resort to populist measures what one can expect of a common citizen? When AIADMK supremo put him in jail, it was the court he went to.NO AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT COULD HAVE HELP HIM THAT TIME.
1. October 2007 - 6:32 PM
Good for the Supreme Court!
If this bench had existed 1989 through 1992…the Rama Janmabhoomi movement would have never got off the ground
Banning Bandhs are good though.
1. October 2007 - 6:39 PM
minister M Karunanidhi decided to opt for a bit of Gandhigiri on Sunday
One thing we can be sure off is that MK won’t cry ‘hey rama’ in the end. He could say ‘hey balaji’ though
1. October 2007 - 6:49 PM
If bandhs were banned, forget about Ram Janmabhoomi – West Bengal and Kerela would have lost their identities altogether…
Oh but wait, forgot bout one thing…Commies are above law… they simply represent “peoples wishes”
1. October 2007 - 7:27 PM
Yes…”people’s wishes” was the argument used then. All scoundrels think alike
1. October 2007 - 7:48 PM
Any news from Dcubed about ‘spontaneous bandhs’?
1. October 2007 - 9:48 PM
Karat “disagrees” with SC… ahem..ahem… well… http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070027911&ch=10/1/2007%204:21:00%20PM
This “scoundrel”… surely thinks.. a lot louder…
BTW… Shiv Sena was recently fined with a 25,00,000 penalty by HC for sponsoring some bandh in Mumbai…
I wish SC can use the same revenue generating means for all the commie bandhs till date…
The bill would run in billions…and make at least some dent in the super cash rich Commie Christist land grabbers of Kerela… who are second rich to none..
Aha.. sorry to miss one thing though… Only Hindu Fundamentalists…can’t protest for “Peoples wishes”
The rule does not apply for “sickulars” and “aam admin” parties…
tch tch… too bad.. for us..
1. October 2007 - 9:58 PM
Karuna is doing what ALL political parties in India including BJP, Congress and Commies have always did. The difference is that the courts are a bit tougher with bandhs and hartals now.
But I don’t get this:
Abusing Rama mostly without basis (in his question of “which Engineering college did Rama pass out from?” lies the tacit acknowledgement that Rama did in fact exist.)
Whats tacitly acknowledged in that?
1. October 2007 - 10:49 PM
“Aha.. sorry to miss one thing though… Only Hindu Fundamentalists…can’t protest for “Peoples wishes—
- But of course they can! But they’ll have to pay though
Aha….just like all the rest!
1. October 2007 - 11:17 PM
Perhaps we should sweep this on under the rug stating that ALL parites are doing ‘it’, have done ‘it’ and will be doing ‘it’ in future too.
No need for holding current administration accountable anywhere. Judges should sent home and they can enjoy the bandh too. And perhaps they’ll join us on the blog here.
2. October 2007 - 1:30 AM
Kumar…we folks are reminiscing on the good ol’ days…But banning the Bandh is a great move. That’s a given.
2. October 2007 - 1:39 AM
Nostalgia is all well and good, but the pattern is becoming clear.
2. October 2007 - 3:37 AM
Let’s get our votes ready to cast for Supreme Court judges who are going to contest in the next parliamentary election. Indeed they have already started their campaign on Sunday in an extraordinary sitting. If the government does not seem to collapse on its own, we don’t have to worry, it’s a contempt of court and SC will deal with it. They have already identified who the allies and enemies of Supreme Court are. Once the All India Supreme Court Judges Party (this name is subject to change if any need arises to include High Courts too) finalizes its seat sharing with allies, it would formally start campaign against the remnants of democracy in India.
Let’s get ready our votes. Democracy wins.
2. October 2007 - 9:53 AM
“Only Hindu Fundamentalists…can’t protest for “Peoples wishesâ€
But its a well known fact that there are double standards when it comes to the Sangh parivar. One glaring instance of course, is the fine imposed on the Shiv-Sena & BJP for having organised a bandh some years ago in Mumbai. And then, just prior to this Supreme Court verdict, it was the Madras High Court which refused to stay the bandh order of the DMK last week. It was thanks to the Supreme Court that law was restored.
Another instance is the media focus some days ago on a stray incident of a woman having had to deliver her baby on the streets just because the Sangh parivar had organised protest rallies against the ASI/ Centre affidavit on Rama. And last week, when the T-20 victors arrived in Mumbai, the victory rally organised by the NCP held traffic in Mumbai for nearly 6 hours. Its strange that we never got to hear of a single ambulance which got held up because of this rally. After all, there was no Sangh parivar element involved.
2. October 2007 - 11:14 AM
exaclty ravindra ..nice observation mate !!! even thought i am happy for T20 heroes its fair question !!! and also my question here did Muthuvel karunidhi send his congrulation to V Anand !! CNN-IBN made such fuss about modi announcing the awards to pathan brothers late now fair question to ask Is V anand a tam brahm thats the reason why “muthuvel karunidhi did not even say word forget a awards to v anand !!1 why CNN-IBN has not even said a word about this
2. October 2007 - 12:04 PM
*Ravindra
Damn good point.
Anybody keeping a tab on ,how many times the SC has rebuked the UPA (Unholy Perverse Alliance)!
As ‘Balu’ has unleashed against the Honorable SC Judges,it is sick.Very sick!Remember the ‘verbal terrorists’ outbursts against the SC judgment in Narmada case!
‘Peoples verdict’ argument is nothing much but totally sham.
PI
2. October 2007 - 8:48 PM
i dont want the dismissal of the DMK govt, then if elections are held he will comeback with a bigger majority own his own due to a sympathy wave. prefer it if the 2009 elections are held and his allied ditch him, rather than being dismissed.
2. October 2007 - 10:45 PM
Guys from TN,
Any insight as to which allies are moving away from DMK and why? Some opinion polls are saying that DMK will loose chunk of seats. Is that purely due to anti-incumbency or party realignment?
3. October 2007 - 12:27 PM
>>If this bench had existed 1989 through 1992…the Rama Janmabhoomi movement would have never got off the ground
As always, Comrade Halli had to stick his twisted oar in.
Three points need to be noted: one that it is the Comrades who are objecting to court’s restrictions on bandhs. Apparently, they seem to believe that inconveniencing citizens is the fundamental right of communist parties.
Two: Forcible bandhs are bad enough, but bandhs forced by ruling parties are worse, as in this present instance. These are state-sponsored bandhs where the very government elected to provide law and order to citizens disrupts order with impunity, using the levers of power at its disposal.
Three: comrades again are the clear champs in using power to subvert order. Some time during mid-90′s the ‘secular’ state of West Bengal achieved the dubious distinction of posting the least number of productive man-days in a year among the states surveyed.
Comrade will no doubt find a one-line argument (or maybe one word: “Hindutva!”) to justify all this.
3. October 2007 - 3:00 PM
Is this Halli guy mini me to Dr Evil of D’Souza ?
3. October 2007 - 7:52 PM
In what way is a hunger strike against the order of Supreme Court that there should be no bandh? The court order was about a bandh. If they wanted to include hunger strike, hartal, rasta roko, looking at my own feet etc in the ambit of that judgement, they should have thought about it!
Where is the connection between the two?
(This comment is not about the larger issues – just specific to the judgement).
3. October 2007 - 11:30 PM
Ot – Let’s actually note these three points:
one that it is the Comrades who are objecting to court’s restrictions on bandhs. Apparently, they seem to believe that inconveniencing citizens is the fundamental right of communist parties.
* Obviously. Every Bandh is partisan. If the BJP organizes one, the self same comrades will object! Ot, it seems, believes that a BJP Bandh does not inconvenience
Two: Forcible bandhs are bad enough, but bandhs forced by ruling parties are worse, as in this present instance. These are state-sponsored bandhs where the very government elected to provide law and order to citizens disrupts order with impunity, using the levers of power at its disposal.
* Ah yes….the DMK seems to have invented this already! There has never been a BJP govt that has organized state-sponsored bandhs! Let’s not embarass the great Ot with a list!And..pray tell why there should be any consideration for an opposition organized bandh versus state-sponsored bandhs??
Your slip is not only showing…but its hanging out!
Three: comrades again are the clear champs in using power to subvert order. Some time during mid-90’s the ’secular’ state of West Bengal achieved the dubious distinction of posting the least number of productive man-days in a year among the states surveyed.
* Sure. That’s a valid argument if some nitwit supports bandhs. I have clearly stated I don’t. On the other hand…you are selective.
Gaurav – Don’t pleasure yourself so
Matt – Good point. But the court was also suspicious that the bandh was indeed being organized under wraps.
4. October 2007 - 12:17 AM
Halli-Is this why you troll this blog ? To pleasure yourself? You are bizarre.
Perhaps D’ Souza and you can pleasure each other.
4. October 2007 - 12:31 AM
Hopefully Gaurav, you will post something sensible soon.
4. October 2007 - 12:52 AM
Comrade Matt-Halli,
>>If they wanted to include hunger strike, hartal, rasta roko, looking at my own feet etc in the ambit of that judgement, they should have thought about it!
But the court did not proscribe hunger strike and YOU looking at your own feet! How did you manage to get into your overtaxed brain this loonie idea that the court order was against hunger strikes?
What next? Are you going to rile against imaginary court orders against wearing black badges? Well then maybe you’d like to work up a lather against fictitious court orders against squared off sites and jerked-off blogs? Please don’t feel inhibited. Go ahead and do what your mind screams you must do. You have my sympathies, for I suspect that at the commie school they taught you target practice on strawmen. Old habits die hard.
4. October 2007 - 1:23 AM
Ot: A sorry…pathetic.. bypass.
4. October 2007 - 10:02 AM
Halli-I would have said something “sensible” but the question is would you know the difference ?
5. October 2007 - 12:19 AM
Buddy…if you can say something “sensible”…I would know the difference.
5. October 2007 - 1:27 PM
Strange Halli, I didn’t know they had started building trolls equipped with ability to discern sensibility. Ain’t technology a marvelous thing !
6. October 2007 - 12:25 AM
There are all kinds of trolls Gaurav. For instance…until you start making some sense..you are one yourself
8. October 2007 - 6:08 PM
Halli sadly you are still not advanced enough to say anything coherent, but I am still hopeful, I think you are just the beta they will fix whatever bug you have a come up with a better version.
8. October 2007 - 11:19 PM
Ah….wise man..