He opined that Congress did a good job in saving the lives of TN fishermen
B.S. Gnanadesikan. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Struggling to recover from successive poll defeats and plagued by internal strife, TNCC’s popularity has hit the nadir. But then, state president B.S. Gnanadesikan has done better than most of his predecessors.
The advocate-politician exudes confidence that his party is a still force to be reckoned with in TN. Apart from attributing the poll defeat to national level anti-incumbency and charging the Dravidian parties of exploiting Lankan Tamils for political mileage, Gnanadesikan speaks on many issues in this freewheeling chat with DC.
Q) You defended the Centre when the BJP criticised the UPA on the fishermen issue last year. Now you are levelling the same criticism against the BJP. Deconstruct that?
A) When the Congress-led UPA was in power, I personally intervened and played an instrumental role in getting Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats released with the help of MEA and Indian high commissioner in Colombo.
We even sent people to help our fishermen detained there. We facilitated the two bilateral fishermen-level talks that took place under the state and Central supervision. What is the BJP doing now? Modi’s poll promise sounded as if he would solve the problem overnight. The ground reality shows it was just an empty poll promise.
Q) AICC and TNCC were not on the same page on the Katchatheevu row during the UPA regime. TNCC was also blamed for being inconsistent at times? UPA was also against retrieving the islet? All except your party and BJP in TN are for retrieving Theevu. What is your stand now?
A) If Katchatheevu can be retrieved, we have no objection. We will not stand in the way. But retrieval will not solve TN fishermen’s problem. Moreover, Katchatheevu is bound by an international agreement. To my limited knowledge, SC order will not bind Lanka. So, I believe the SC cannot give any relief to our fishermen.
Q) Both in Katchatheevu and Lankan Tamils issue, all but you and BJP stand isolated. How do you face the constant attack from Dravidian majors?
A) If we do not rake up the issue here, Tamils will be happy there (Sri Lanka). The army will be withdrawn from northern Lanka if we keep quiet here. People raking up the issue here are only creating a fear psychosis among the Lankans that there might be another uprising. That prevents restoration of normalcy there. Political parties in TN will not have an agenda if the problem is settled. They are doing it for personal political gains.
Q) Your erstwhile ally DMK raked it up many times even when it was in the UPA coalition. DMK walked out of the UPA on this issue. Comment.
A) DMK would have won the 2014 LS polls, if the people endorsed their decision to quit in the last leg of the UPA regime. It did not happen. Enough said.
Q) Congress ended up friendless and drew a blank in TN in the 16th LS poll. Have you become an unwelcome ally in TN polls? What went wrong?
A) There was anti-incumbency at the national level. Parties feared that the 10-year UPA regime would burden them. Their decision to go without Congress did not give them any advantage. The scenario will change.
Q) Do you suggest that the DMK or other parties would return to you in 2016?
A) A scenario will emerge ahead of every election. Whether it is small or large party, if the situation warrants, a formation (read alliance) might take place. I can only say so much. Whether Congress will go it alone or be a part of a formation with equal partnership or lead an alliance will be known only then (2016).
Q) Congress struggled in TN even during UPA regime. After the LS poll drubbing, what have you done to revive the party and where do you see TNCC going from here?
A) In electoral politics, strengthening party and securing votes are two different things. Ahead of the LS polls, up to 2,000 cadres turned up for every assembly constituency level party meetings. So, the party is strong, but the strength did not translate into votes. That was due to the situation (political alliances) prevailing then.
Q) The Chidambarams have insisted that TNCC should rally behind one single leader like the Dravidian majors. Do you agree?
A) It will not work. Ours is a national party. Unlike in Dravidian parties where the tenure of the party president is indefinite, TNCC president has a fixed tenure.
Here, power is sourced from the AICC. But, we can have a system wherein there will be one or two leaders whose voices the AICC will take in to account. Single leader system is welcome and good if it comes, but it is not possible.
Q) Infighting and failure to appoint office bearers in time were cited as major pitfalls stopping the Congress growth in TN. What measures have you taken to overcome that?
A) In my two and a half year tenure, only once did they publicly voice dissent. They stopped it immediately after I issued a statement. Differences do exist in all parties. Even in the AIADMK, there is infighting at the district level. As regards organisational polls, notification has been issued to hold polls from January and end by July 2015.
Q) You have been criticised of going soft on the AIADMK regime? What is your take on the three-year rule of the AIADMK?
A) It is not poor law and order, but crime rate, which is increasing. That is one area where the state should concentrate. Also, government must stop focusing on increasing liquor sale. It is destroying many families. What good are all those freebies when you destroy families? TN must follow Kerala government. I am taking efforts to rally parties like MDMK and PMK, besides like-minded individuals like Tamilaruvi Manian and Pazha Nedumaran, to bring total prohibition in TN.
( Source : dc )
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