Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Jayalalithaa wakes up late

After the complete rout Jayalalithaa faced in the parliamentary elections 2004, with an eye on Tamil Nadu assembly elections in 2006, Jayalalithaa has announced the following:
  1. An ordinance to repeal the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religious Ordinance, 2002 (promulgated on 10th October 2002) will be passed shortly.
  2. All punishments meted out to Government employees and school teachers revoked.
  3. All cases filed under TESMA against DMK, Congress (I), and the communist party leaders will be withdrawn.
  4. AIADMK Govt. will move a resolution in the assembly to drop the privilege proceedings against The Hindu and Murasoli.
  5. Electricity will be free to all farmers, irrespective of their land holding. The state Govt. will reimburse the State Electricity Board the costs incurred.
What a mighty fall it was for the supreme leader? Of the above list, with the exception of the electricity subsidies, the rest were entirely flimsy and imposed on the victims by an inflated ego and a vengeance streak. She cannot redeem herself with this fallback. It would be easy for anyone to see through this charade.

The worrying thing is, any kind of sensible reform in the state government machinery has been set back by several years.

There are several things still to be addressed. Here is a partial list:
  1. Withdrawal of POTA against Vaiko, though now it is in the hands of the public prosecutor. Perhaps POTA itself may be repealed.
  2. Re-instatement of the kannaki statue, and a honest explanation of what really went on behind the scenes.
  3. A statement on why Queen Mary's College was chosen for demolition.
  4. Stopping the attempt to build the new secretariat in Kotturpuram, Anna University Campus, and perhaps shift it to Mahabalipuram.
  5. Perhaps, rebuilding Seerani Arangam.
I should look through the list of her inexplicable misdeeds to find out what else she should be doing. Doing all of that would still not absolve her of the last three years of misrule.

6 comments:

  1. These stunts SHOULD have been implemented next year; just in time for the state elections. Anyway, with your wish list, what is the end user's benefit?

    >>Withdrawal of POTA against Vaiko

    Some use; but there are better burning problems. Vaiko/Nakkeeran Gopal can take care of themeselves.

    >>Re-instatement of the kannaki statue
    >>Statement on QMC
    >>Stopping to build the new secretariat
    >>Perhaps, rebuilding Seerani Arangam.

    Any use for a comman middle class family from the above?

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  2. Perhaps not much for the middle-class family through any of this. However these are against democratic principles, and to that extent, they have to be corrected.

    On top of this, she has to work on positive governance which helps not just middle-class, but also lower classes. Only the rich can take care of themselves.

    I do not think Vaiko or Nakkeeran Gopal can take care of themselves. They are struggling. However these two names mean nothing. It is to indicate the larger issue of attack on individual freedom and abuse of state power to settle personal score - which should be corrected.

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  3. Boston Bala: So a govt. is only for middle class? (I woulnd't have asked, had you framed the question with a 'common man')

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  4. Pari: The govt. shd cater to each and every society; not only for the middle class :) But, I wanted to post from my perspective. There are serious issues like water scarcity, Transport corpn's poor service, accessibility of officials. According to middle class these will be of tangible benefit; and in turn may be votes too.

    But, for an ordinary citizen, symbol of freedom and accountability may be of more importance.

    Badri: IMHO, Seerani arangam does not serve any purpose. During this campaign season, meetings of major parties were held in the beach shores, with huge stage backdrops. Even with seerani arangam, the stage setting was separate. Similarly, I could eulogize abt the benefits of relocating Secretariat and Kannagi statue.

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  5. According to middle class these will be of tangible benefit; and in turn may be votes too.
    >>
    very good oxymoron :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. All-
    Whether it is "common man or middle class", acts like POTO at some point will affect everybody including Rich and Powerful people (like Vaiko, Nakkerran Gopal).
    I can point out many things how it can affect everybody, as Badhri said it is against democratic principles. If you watched Boys movie, you can see one illustration of how common man affected by those kind of law (just for sample I am mentioning, in real life there are many innocents also affected).

    ReplyDelete