DMK, TMC defend partners

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 1.The much soured DMK-TMC ties was at the centre of some breezy exchanges in the Assembly today, with both parties being equally vocal in defending their changed tracks.

The verbal exchanges generated more laughter than heat, notwithstanding a separate strident attack by the AIADMK group leader, Mr. P.R. Sundaram, against the DMK government.

It all started with Mr. R. Eashwaran (TMC), reviving memories of how his party leader, Mr. G.K. Moopanar, had `vouchsafed' for the DMK's credentials in the 1996 Assembly elections campaign, which had brought the latter to power.

However, Mr. Eashwaran, participating in the debate on the interim budget 2001-02 said, in the UF regime when Mr. Moopanar, had an opportunity to become Prime Minister, among all the states it was Tamil Nadu that had let him down, in chiding the DMK's attitude then.

As this drew protests from the Treasury Benches, the Leader of the House, Mr. K. Anbazhagan said that neither the DMK leader, Mr. M. Karunanidhi nor the then Industries Minister (Mr. Murasoli Maran) had opposed Mr. Moopanar's candidature for the Prime Minister's post.

There was, nonetheless, a powerful force which could not be overcome then, Mr. Anbazhagan said without naming it, and added that the DMK leadership will help, should Mr. Moopanar get another such opportunity.

When the Transport Minister, Mr. K. Ponmudi said the TMC did not say anything then, but was now looking for an alibi to hit out at the DMK, the Opposition Leader, Mr. S. Balakrishnan (TMC) retorted, ``it is not our policy to break ties for the sake of power. We parted ways with you (DMK) only because of your alliance with the BJP,'' asserted the TMC leader.

Picking up this thread later was Mr. Aasaiyan (DMK), who said the TMC now joining hands with the ``forces of corruption'' will become a poll issue, as the TMC had vowed to fight corruption.

This prompted the CPI MLA, Mr. G. Palanichamy, to remind that the people will also ask why the DMK, which having dubbed the BJP as `pandaara, paradesigal' (saffron monks and beggars), should now go with them.

Immediately on his feet, Mr. Anbazhagan taking a dig at the AIADMK's `corruption' quipped, ``we are only going with beggars, which will evoke sympathy; but the destination you are headed to is more problematic.''

Mr. Sivapunniyam (CPI), was soon to take yet another swipe at the DMK's `communal friend' , the BJP, referring to the Union Minister, Ms. Uma Bharathi's statement yesterday that she fully supported the move to build a Ram Temple at Ayodhya. This came close on the heels of Mr. Karunanidhi stoutly opposing the VHP's move in the Assembly, the CPI MLA pointed out and asked how the ruling party will explain the contradictions in the NDA on this issue.

Mr. Anbazhagan said, that while Ministers or MLAs were free to express their views in a democracy, even in a `regimented' movement like that of the Communists, the CPI and CPI(M) did not speak with one voice on all issues.

Within the BJP too there were people opposed to communalism, Mr. Anbazhagan said, adding that the DMK's position was that it will not be a mute spectator (to any initiative to build a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya), like the way the erstwhile Narasimha Rao regime had been a witness to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Mr. P.R. Sundaram (AIADMK), participating in the debate, launched a blistering attack against the DMK, saying that its only preoccupation in the last four-and-a-half years was its attempt to `drive out Ms. Jayalalitha from politics' by foisting cases against her and `destroying' the AIADMK.

Other MLAs who participated in the debate today included Messrs. Rajamanickkam, Ramasamy, K.K. Veerappan, P.N. Sivasubramanian, Gomathi Sreenivsasan, T.P. Arumugam (all DMK), Mr. Puratchi Mani and Mr. Mani Nadar (both TMC), Mr. D. Mony (CPI-M) and Mr. Mohammed Ismail (TMDL).

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