Karuna seeks PM's help for fishermen

Even as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were trying to fight the chill which had crept into the relations between the two parties since the forced resignation of the former’s A Raja from the Union telecom ministry following allegations of corruption, another element of tension was introduced today.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s personal intervention for firm action to end the Sri Lankan navy firing on Indian fishermen.

Although the Ministry of External Affairs in response to questions did say, ‘Resorting to firing in these situations has no justification and we have called on the Sri Lankan authorities to desist from using force’, Karunanidhi followed this with a telegram to the PM.

He said the Lankan navy’s “atrocities” on fishermen were “continuing unabated”, despite repeated assurances by New Delhi and Colombo that such incidents would not recur.

Drawing the PM’s attention to the killing of a fisherman in the Palk Straits yesterday, Karunanidhi said the incident should be taken up with the Lankan government for effecting immediate action against those responsible.

While Karunanidhi’s statement was probably to stave off attacks on his government by the Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, there is no doubt the tension of keeping the alliance afloat is telling on both sides.

Top Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu heard with dismay the attack by telecom minister Kapil Sibal on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s computing of losses from the auction of 2G spectrum. This criticism was echoed by party spokesman Manish Tewari.

They told Business Standard from Chennai over telephone that defending Raja, whose accumulated seven-year wealth was there on the ground for all to see, would dishearten Congress workers, resulting in an electoral fiasco akin to the 1980 Assembly election.

In 1980, the Congress-DMK alliance had lost after New Delhi declared Karunanidhi the next chief minister and disheartened Congress workers actively worked to sabotage their and the DMK’s chances.

“In the midst of all this (charges of corruption and family rule), the only thing required to enthuse a Congress worker would be to hear the Congress will participate in the government,” said a party member.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the party cannot understand, these leaders say, why the Congress should go out on a limb to defend corruption allegations.

“With the onslaught of television and internet, everyone knows about the 2G spectrum and auctions. When they see palaces replacing hovels under a span of five years, workers wonder why the Congress should defend such individuals, especially when they are members of some other political group,” said a leader.

While many in the party praise some of the social welfare schemes put in place by the Karunanidhi government — the public distribution system reform ensuring grain reaches the right people, health insurance and free television sets — they also feel the compulsion to defend the role played by Karunanidhi’s immediate family is a heavy burden to carry.