Self-imposed ban to keep the peace

By A. V. Ragunathan

SALEM, MAY 2. Long before the Election Commission thought of banning wall posters and banners put up by political parties in public places, the people of Kamanaickenpatti, on the outskirts of Salem, had been scrupulously adopting this practice for the past many years.

Even before the 1996 elections, the villagers arrived at a consensus that no party should erect the flag poles at public places such as the Mariamman Temple grounds and at street corners. This ``unofficial ban'' has been accepted by the political parties in good spirit, and no deviation has been reported till now.

The elders say they have witnessed clashes and bloodletting elsewhere over location of the flagpoles. Once elections are declared, the people get divided on party lines and this mars the peaceful atmosphere.

There are instances of the rivals pulling down the flag poles, and when they encounter resistance, indulge in violence. Therefore, to protect the congenial atmosphere in the village, it has been decided to remove the flagpoles from the public places.

However, a cement platform has been constructed (adjoining a big arch at the entrance of the village), and the flagpoles of political parties have been put up there. All these poles, made of steel, are of uniform size, and erected at equal distance.

This is done to convey the message that no undue importance would be accorded to any one party, because in the view of villagers each has its own followers. Similarly, the villagers have agreed unanimously to erect the statues of leaders on the periphery.

At present, an MGR statue has been set up and that of other leaders would follow. The villagers unfailingly hoist the national flag on the temple grounds on Independence Day and Republic Day. This practice, in their opinion, will foster communal amity among the people.

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Section  : State Elections
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