Interview: If health permits will fight next polls too, says Karunanidhi
Chennai: At 93, he is one of the oldest living politicians in the country who steered the course of his party through the best and worst times. Out of power for over 12-years (MGR era), he kept his flock together to return to power thrice thereafter. Even on power, he endured the pain of seeing his daughter being imprisoned in the 2G case recently. All that did not deter the spirit and courage of the astute leader, who has answers for every question put to him and suggest solutions to every problem. He is DMK president and five-time chief minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi, popularly called Kalaignar, who braved all the odds, particularly his poor health to campaign for the party candidates for the April 24 lok sabha polls. An articulate MK who preferred to skip questions related to Alagiri and Jayalalithaa’s challenge (an one-to-one debate on Cauvery issue in the Assembly) however lays bare his views on a plethora of sensitive issues including A Raja’s candidature, offer of support to Congress, ruling out post-poll alliance with BJP and the debatable retirement in this exclusive interview to DC.
Q: You have hit the campaign trail at 90 plus. What kind of response did your campaign evoke?
Did you not see the reception (for my campaign)? Kindly refer to Ananda Vikatan (Tamil weekly magazine) edition dated 16-04-2014. It says; “Time is taking Karunanidhi on a stroll. Cadres gather for Karunanidhi’s campaign with the jubilance of seeing a child.” I could see that feel among my udanpirapus (party cadres) gathering for my campaign. Tamil people are gathering with great deal of enthusiasm to see and hear me after a long gap. The love and affection they show inspire me and heal the pains my body endures.
Q: The state goes for a crucial LS poll in barely three days. But, you still harp on state centric issues in your campaigns. Other DMK campaigners are also strongly criticising chief minister Jayalalithaa. Why?
Though it’s a Lok Sabha poll, as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, DMK and AIADMK are the major parties and big players in the poll fray. Moreover, AIADMK is the party in power in the state and chief minister harps on the past DMK regime and its participation in the UPA rule and hence we respond to her in our campaigns. Also, we should not forget that country’s problems are nothing but a combination of state’s problems.
Q: DMK has been constantly saying that there is a tacit understanding between AIADMK and BJP and the AIADMK would tilt in favour of the BJP post polls. However, chief minister Jayalalithaa has called Gujarat’s development a ‘myth’ and criticized BJP’s stand on the Cauvery issue. How do you respond to that?
Could you not guess from the time from when chief minister Jayalailthaa started talking about Gujarat and the BJP? Left with no other option, she started criticizing the BJP at the fag end of her campaign, especially after parties like Communists repeatedly questioned her for not criticizing Modi. Her participation in Modi’s coronation, Modi’s participation in her coronation, Jayalalithaa statement’s supporting Kar Seva and dispatch of men for Kar Seva had helped us understand who Jayalailthaa truly is. In his recent interview, journalist Cho Ramasamy appealed to electorate to vote for AIADMK in constituencies the BJP does not contest. You can substantially understand the future from that statement. Likewise, Jayalalithaa’s has not uttered a word about Ram temple construction, uniform civil code and Article 370 that feature in BJP’s poll manifesto. What does it signify?
Q: Recently, you announced that DMK would pardon Congress and support a secular government formation at the Centre. Did DMK go through a change of heart? Do you regret not forging a pre-poll alliance with the Congress?
We have no regrets. The decision to not ally with Congress did not cause (us) any worry. I have shared a good rapport with select few leaders in that party. There are many in the party (Congress) with a lot of love for me. However, Congress government did not show due concern to Tamils welfare.
It is a well-known fact that DMK respected coalition dharma and quit the (Congress led) alliance only when the Lankan Tamils issue reached an unbearable point. However, it is our established principle and intention that only a secular government should be formed at the Centre. I offered to pardon Congress and extend support only for forming such a (secular) government. There is no change in DMK’s approach with regard to Congress. At the same time, we are determined in our stand that only a secular government should be formed at the Centre.
Q: How do you respond to chief minister Jayalalithaa’s allegation that there is a conspiracy behind deliberate disruption in power generation ahead of polls?
Jayalailthaa has been playing delaying tactics by citing different reasons in the various meetings she attended before and after coming to power. Her attempts to buy time did not work out. People refused to buy her argument that the central government and DMK conspired against her. Now she says, it’s a plot. People with even a little knowledge of governance would definitely not accept chief minister’s conspiracy theory in a crucial issue like power outage considering that the state intelligence is under her control. Her conspiracy allegation is laughable.
Q: The crowd responded emotionally when you announced in your Coimbatore rally that this would be your last election. Will you contest in the ensuing Assembly poll?
It was not just in the rally, people who watched my speech on television kept asking throughout the same night, the next day. Even now they wonder why I made such a statement. Who can forecast the will of nature? Considering that two more years are left for the Assembly polls, my candidature would be based on my health condition then and the decision the party takes. Why are you in hurry?
Q: BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has criticised the DMK and AIADMK of avenging each other instead of concentrating on public welfare. Comment..
Replace DMK and AIADMK (in you question) with Congress and BJP.
Q: The BJP led national democratic alliance comprising DMDK, PMK, MDMK, IJK and KNMK has been asserting that the alliance would trigger a turnaround in the state politics. What do you infer from their confidence? Is BJP gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu?
BJP is trying desperately to get a foothold in the state. After failing to forge alliance with the DMK and AIADMK, the BJP has forged an alliance with the above-mentioned parties, attempting to create a base in the state. But, Tamil Nadu is a state moulded and safeguarded by Periyar, Anna, Kamarajar and Quaid-e-Milleth.
Q: Chief minister Jayalalithaa has been repeatedly attacking the DMK using the spectrum (2G) case. Fielding A Raja has also invited adverse media criticism. How do you overcome that?
2G is sub judice. Media has been repeatedly spreading news that corruption to the tune of several lakh crores had happened in it. Later, they called it revenue loss. The lakh crore was reduced to notional loss. We have seen from past experiences that such sensational media criticism make a mountain out of a molehill.
Q: Tamil Nadu is facing a multi-cornered contest after long. What would be results like?
I am not interested in releasing opinion polls.
Q: Will DMK remain firm in its decision not to align with the Congress or BJP in future?
Yes. It will.
Q: You invited communists to join the DMK led alliance. However, they not only declined your invitation but hit out at the DMK partnered UPA. How do you define it?
Yes. It is true that I invited the Left parties to join our alliance. But, I did not invite a few leaders in those parties. That was the undoing. I cannot forget the communist leaders who contacted me over phone and expressed willingness and happiness when I invited them to join our alliance. I know why the Left parties are being highly critical of the UPA the DMK was a part of and why they mellow down their tone while criticising the AIADMK.
Jayalalithaa’s stated in the Assembly that tin was discovered only for communists to raise funds. I proudly said, “I am a true communist.” Left leaders are quite aware of these statements.
Q: DMK treasurer M K Stalin has drawn public attention a great deal in this election campaign. How do you rate his electioneering?
I have also drawn considerable public attention through my efforts during my stint as the party treasurer in the past. I am reminded of that. As a party president I am extremely satisfied and gladdened by treasurer Stalin’s performance.
