Those who
believe that bellicosity does not pay in politics should take a lesson or two from the
uncle-nephew duo who conduct the affairs of the DMK in Chennai and Delhi. Immediately
after the Jain report became public, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Union Industry
Minister Murasoli Maran gathered a team of senior officials to scrutinise the report for
inconsistencies and gaffes. One of them detected Jain's casual indictment of the entire
Tamil people and it was game, set and match to the DMK. Within hours, the deadly duo from
Chennai transformed the issue into a question of Tamil self-respect and refused to yield
even an inch. "We will not resign even for a minute," Maran told a UF leader who
had the temerity to suggest that the DMK should step down for the sake of saving the
Gujral Government. "We are not here at anybody's mercy. Neither will we go at the
bidding of others." The DMK hit bull's eye. When Sonia descended on Chennai last
Thursday, she had to issue a testimonial to the patriotism of Tamils.
Those who
believe that bellicosity does not pay in politics should take a lesson or two from the
uncle-nephew duo who conduct the affairs of the DMK in Chennai and Delhi. Immediately
after the Jain report became public, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Union Industry
Minister Murasoli Maran gathered a team of senior officials to scrutinise the report for
inconsistencies and gaffes. One of them detected Jain's casual indictment of the entire
Tamil people and it was game, set and match to the DMK. Within hours, the deadly duo from
Chennai transformed the issue into a question of Tamil self-respect and refused to yield
even an inch. "We will not resign even for a minute," Maran told a UF leader who
had the temerity to suggest that the DMK should step down for the sake of saving the
Gujral Government. "We are not here at anybody's mercy. Neither will we go at the
bidding of others." The DMK hit bull's eye. When Sonia descended on Chennai last
Thursday, she had to issue a testimonial to the patriotism of Tamils.
