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June 20, 1998
ELECTIONS '98
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The Rediff Interview/Jana K Krishnamurthy'The Vajpayee government will survive withdrawal of support by the AIADMK'
As national vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party hailing from Tamil Nadu, it was Jana K Krishnamurthy whom All India Anna DMK chief J Jayalalitha reportedly approached on the eve of the Lok Sabha election, first for an 'electoral understanding' between the two parties, and later, a formal alliance. That was also when private opinion polls had reportedly given the BJP and its prime ministerial nominee Atal Bihari Vajpayee a 30-per cent approval rating among Tamil voters, against the AIADMK's voter-standing that had tumbled down to around 15 per cent from the 20-plus percentage points in the 'worst-hit 1996 polls.
Today, three months after Vajpayee became prime minister at the head of a coalition government of which the AIADMK is the second largest partner with 18 Lok Sabha members, relations between the two parties are far from satisfactory. Starting off with a reluctant and delayed letter supporting the BJP-led coalition to President K R Narayanan, and giving additional pinpricks at every turn, the AIADMK seems to be inching towards withdrawal of support to the Vajpayee government over the question of the Centre dismissing the DMK regime in Tamil Nadu. Already, party MPs have been boycotting both houses of Parliament -- when they have not staged a more than formal walkout - never to return to the house for the rest of the day.
In this interview with The AIADMK walked out of both Houses of Parliament for three or four days, and on the last day, boycotted the session completely. What do you feel about it? They have themselves clarified that the walkout and protest are not against the Vajpayee government, but only against the Tamil Nadu government. But hasn't it been an embarrassment for you? They could have avoided it. But they have every right to take recourse to such a step... They could have avoided it. A one-time walkout or something could be reasoned out as a form of protest. What about a daily ritual of the same? It's for them to explain it. Will the BJP concede the AIADMK's demands under such pressure? What do you mean by 'demands?' Their demand for the dismissal of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, for instance... We have a very clear stand on the use of Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss duly-elected state governments. We have been consistent in our policy from our days as the Jan Sangh, and have aired it time and again when either the Congress or the United Front, ruling the Centre, had dismissed BJP state governments... That a state government elected by the people should not be dismissed unless in the circumstance provided for under the Constitution, Article 356 in particular. Do you consider such circumstances exist in Tamil Nadu today? The Centre doesn't seem to have come to such a conclusion. But the AIADMK says that the law and order the situation in Tamil Nadu is ripe for the rightful use of Article 356... The Constitution has not vested such powers in political parties, but only in the central government as an institution... Can you be more specific? The Centre alone has the right, responsibility and the power under the Constitution to impose President's rule in any state. The home ministry, the intelligence agencies all have the information and network to assess a given situation at a given time for taking the right decision. Do you disagree with the AIADMK on this? All I am saying is that it's not for political parties to decide on the dismissal question, but for the Centre as an institution. For instance, our own BJP unit in Bihar has been demanding the dismissal of the Rabri Devi government in the state. That doesn't automatically mean that the prime minister or the BJP leadership has acted on it. Which all implies that you will always stand by your well-known party policy in the dismissal question, right? Yes, our decision will not change even if the DMK is the affected party. After all, the DMK did not stoutly oppose the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh last year, when Murasoli Maran and T G Venkataraman were members of the Gujral Cabinet... But your assessment differs from the general impression, that the DMK ministers opposed the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh regime... My information is that then home minister Indrajit Gupta alone opposed the dismissal move, but he too gave in to the pressure brought upon by CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet and others... The DMK ministers could have walked out of the Cabinet meeting, or condemned the proposal. What finally went to the President for assent was a unanimous decision of the Union Cabinet, instead... What is your assessment of the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu? It is not as good as Chief Minister Karunanidhi prides himself on, nor is it as bad as to justify central intervention... The Coimbatore serial blasts have changed the situation for the better. The state government neglected earlier intelligence and information from the Centre, but now after the blasts, there have been bans, arrests... What about the Tamil Nadu government's new anti-terrorism law? That's also another point. Earlier, Karunanidhi promised the release of all TADA detenues during the run-up to the 1996 poll. They were all released the very day he became chief minister, and even the police check-post in the communally sensitive Ukkadam area in Coimbatore was removed. But two years down the line, and after the Coimbatore blasts, his government has brought about an anti-terrorism law that's severe than even TADA.... That's a positive sign... Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has alleged that the RSS is taking money from Karunanidhi to ensure that his government is not dismissed.. He has the freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution. Earlier, he wanted the RSS banned and its chief detained under TADA. The new allegation is only one more in that direction. What about the recent visit of Tamil Nadu Governor Fatima Beevi to Delhi and her meetings with the prime minister and the home minister? Was it the BJP's way of placating the AIADMK and Jayalalitha? It was only a routine visit. The governor had not met the new rulers at Delhi, and it was a routine courtesy call. No motives need to be attributed. What, then, about Jayalalitha's forthcoming meeting with Home Minister Advani? Leaders of all coalition partners, whether they are in the government or not, keep meeting senior BJP leaders from time to time. It may only be one of that kind, and again, I see no great importance in the proposed meeting. What if the AIADMK withdraws support to the Vajpayee government, as rumoured? Whether it is their quitting the government, or withdrawing support, such a decision would be unfortunate. We will try to impress upon them not to take such a decision. What if they go ahead with such a decision? We will outlive it, the Vajpayee government will survive any such withdrawal of support by the AIADMK. I am sure of that. Can you explain, how? No, I do not want to discuss strategies, but I am sure of it. I am also sure theAIADMK will not withdraw support. |
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