It is time to welcome a new year and this writer wishes all the readers of this blog a very happy and prosperous year ahead. Let the year 2012 bring in new hopes of peace, safety and tranquility all over the world.
31 December 2011
18 December 2011
End Chauvinism and Double Standard on Mullaperiyar
Those regular readers of this Candid Minds blog, who personally don’t know this writer may be worried on his safety, for in his last essay Build New Dam at Mullaperiyar or We’re Dead he spoke about his fear of being washed away by the deluge if Mullaperiyar dam collapses. If that was the case then this piece should assure them that this writer is still alive as Mullaperiyar hasn’t collapsed yet, but the danger of such a catastrophe is also still alive as no permanent solution for the issue has been found yet.
Before continuing with this essay this writer wants to put things in the right perspective and hence would say in unequivocal terms that he is not against the Tamilians as a whole, for he has many friends, sisters and brothers who are Tamilians, who have been bestowing on him affection of the supreme kind, which he is sure, thanking of no measure would adequately compensate. However Tamil politicians, from Vaiko to Stalin, from Jayalalithaa to Karunanidhi are all whipping up passion of the Tamil people to revolt against Malayalees on what they consider as unrealistic and unwarranted call of Malayalees for a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Voltaire would be laughing in his grave for most of the Tamil politicians are proving him to be right again. It was Voltaire in the 18th century who famously said ‘common sense is not so common’ and Tamil politicians defies common sense when they say that the Mullaperiyar dam, which was declared to have a life of just 50 years when it was made, is safe even after 116 years of functioning. They are giving the example of Kallanai, Grand Anicut dam that was made in the 2nd century to show that not all old dams are unsafe. However they are not considering the fact that Kallanai was made of using unhewn stone, while Mullaperiyar with lime surkhi which will weather down with time. Moreover comparing the Kallanai dam which is located only 5.4 m from River basin to 53.6 m high Mullaperiyar dam located at 881 m above see level is not reasonable but foolish. One would have to believe that there was some sort of conspiracy in making a lease agreement for 999 years for a dam that had just 50 years of declared life time.
In a classic example of double standards Tamil politicians are making a huge cry at Tamil Nadu against Koodankulam Nuclear Plant, which has been constructed using the latest technology that could even withstand a tsunami and all safety measures taken to prevent radiation. In order to prove their claim that Mullaperiyar dam is safe, Tamil politicians show studies conducted by various educational and technical institutions around the country that say the dam is safe. If we use the same logic they should approve of the safety of the Koodankulam nuclear plant which has been tested safe by many technical institutions in India and abroad. Should Tamilians need approval from any one more than APJ Abdul Kalam, the great Indian scientist who has said in more than one occasion that the Koodankulam plant is safe and there need be no concern on its safety? However Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made a statement yesterday that said Koodankulam plant should be approved only after removing the “concerns of the people.” Let us not go to the merits of the arguments of the nuclear plant supporters or its detractors as that is not the purpose of this essay. But there could not be different standards for the Tamilians and for Keralites. As Jayalalithaa wants to remove the concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu before approving the nuclear plant, let her accept that she and her people need to remove the concerns of the Keralites before going against the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar.
It is understandable when a trivial regional political party like the MDMK under the leadership of Vaiko whip up chauvinistic sentiments to earn political points. However when the state committee of a national party like Indian National Congress speak on chauvinistic lines it shows how bad the political environment around Mullaperiyar has become and that was what happened yesterday at the meeting organised by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. To make matters worse, in that meeting P Chidambaram (PC as he is popularly known among scribes), Home Minister of India made the ludicrous statement yesterday that he is sure that the Supreme Court decision on Mullaperiyar would come in favour of the wishes of the Tamil people. It is a matter of grave irresponsibility to see a Cabinet Minister in the central government stooping so low. In contrast take the case of AK Antony, the Defence Minister of India, who hails from Kerala and how gentlemanly a stand he has taken in this issue, where he hasn’t taken any position in favour of Kerala but is working for finding an amicable solution to the issue. In a federal democratic system it is incumbent upon Union ministers to take a nationalistic stance in matters regarding conflict between two states. It is difficult to believe that a politician like Chidambaram, who is not only known for his high intelligence but also known for his disdain for anyone who falls below his intelligence quotient, would make a mistake by making such a statement. It is sure that he has taken a very wise position to influence the court’s decision in favour of Tamil Nadu. Moreover PC is now surrounded by many problems including the 2G scam issue and this seems to be his shrewd plan to get the support of the Tamil people if he is fired from the Cabinet on the issue, so that he can claim that he has fallen victim for his support of the Tamil cause in Mullaperiyar issue and thus gain martyrdom. PC’s allegation that political parties in Kerala have kicked up the dam row keeping an eye on the by-poll from Piravom constituency shows his political depravity. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should show courage (though it is not his wont to show courage) to kick out such senseless ministers from his Cabinet.
A few stray incidents of violence against Tamilians in Kerala had been reported earlier, but now things are coming to normalcy in Kerala as the state government took some rapid actions to stop such vandalism by a minority. At the same time, violence against Malayalees is on the rise in Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, Coimbaore and Tanjavur many shops of Malayalees have been attacked; in Gudalor a Kerala bound bus was set ablaze by attackers after asking passengers to alight, to name a few incidents. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader VS Achuthananthan have written letters to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to take steps to stop violence against Malayalees.
It is imperative for the Central Government to step in immediately and find an amicable political solution to the Mullaperiyar issue. Kerala has made the promise umpteen number of times that it is not against giving water to Tamil Nadu and even after building a new dam it is ready to give Tamil Nadu the same amount of water that it is drawing now. Kerala CM Oommen Chandy made the statement that Kerala’s stance is ‘water for Tamil Nadu, safety for Kerala.’ But Tamil Nadu CM, Jayalalithaa’s arrogance and intransigence have made it impossible for the central government to call upon both states for a discussion to find a solution to the issue. If the central government doesn’t have the political will to compel a state to come for discussion to solve an inter-state dispute, it is better for it to resign and go to exile.
I humbly appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu, our brothers and sisters, to not believe the misinformation propagated by the chauvinistic politicians and media of Tamil Nadu. (In Facebook I saw a Tamil brother saying that all the villages near the Mullaperiyar dam are above the water level of the dam and in the event of dam collapse water won’t flow upwards and therefore there is no need to panic in Kerala and all these are false propagation of political parties in Kerala; he can’t be blamed, may be that is how is being misinformed and made to believe.) We Malayalees are not against giving water to Tamil Nadu as many people there are made to believe by the unscrupulous politicians. We are ready to give water to your state in as much quantity as you are drawing now and what we want is only the safety to the life and property of the millions of people in our state living downstream the Mullaperiyar dam.
Before continuing with this essay this writer wants to put things in the right perspective and hence would say in unequivocal terms that he is not against the Tamilians as a whole, for he has many friends, sisters and brothers who are Tamilians, who have been bestowing on him affection of the supreme kind, which he is sure, thanking of no measure would adequately compensate. However Tamil politicians, from Vaiko to Stalin, from Jayalalithaa to Karunanidhi are all whipping up passion of the Tamil people to revolt against Malayalees on what they consider as unrealistic and unwarranted call of Malayalees for a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Voltaire would be laughing in his grave for most of the Tamil politicians are proving him to be right again. It was Voltaire in the 18th century who famously said ‘common sense is not so common’ and Tamil politicians defies common sense when they say that the Mullaperiyar dam, which was declared to have a life of just 50 years when it was made, is safe even after 116 years of functioning. They are giving the example of Kallanai, Grand Anicut dam that was made in the 2nd century to show that not all old dams are unsafe. However they are not considering the fact that Kallanai was made of using unhewn stone, while Mullaperiyar with lime surkhi which will weather down with time. Moreover comparing the Kallanai dam which is located only 5.4 m from River basin to 53.6 m high Mullaperiyar dam located at 881 m above see level is not reasonable but foolish. One would have to believe that there was some sort of conspiracy in making a lease agreement for 999 years for a dam that had just 50 years of declared life time.
In a classic example of double standards Tamil politicians are making a huge cry at Tamil Nadu against Koodankulam Nuclear Plant, which has been constructed using the latest technology that could even withstand a tsunami and all safety measures taken to prevent radiation. In order to prove their claim that Mullaperiyar dam is safe, Tamil politicians show studies conducted by various educational and technical institutions around the country that say the dam is safe. If we use the same logic they should approve of the safety of the Koodankulam nuclear plant which has been tested safe by many technical institutions in India and abroad. Should Tamilians need approval from any one more than APJ Abdul Kalam, the great Indian scientist who has said in more than one occasion that the Koodankulam plant is safe and there need be no concern on its safety? However Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made a statement yesterday that said Koodankulam plant should be approved only after removing the “concerns of the people.” Let us not go to the merits of the arguments of the nuclear plant supporters or its detractors as that is not the purpose of this essay. But there could not be different standards for the Tamilians and for Keralites. As Jayalalithaa wants to remove the concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu before approving the nuclear plant, let her accept that she and her people need to remove the concerns of the Keralites before going against the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar.
It is understandable when a trivial regional political party like the MDMK under the leadership of Vaiko whip up chauvinistic sentiments to earn political points. However when the state committee of a national party like Indian National Congress speak on chauvinistic lines it shows how bad the political environment around Mullaperiyar has become and that was what happened yesterday at the meeting organised by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. To make matters worse, in that meeting P Chidambaram (PC as he is popularly known among scribes), Home Minister of India made the ludicrous statement yesterday that he is sure that the Supreme Court decision on Mullaperiyar would come in favour of the wishes of the Tamil people. It is a matter of grave irresponsibility to see a Cabinet Minister in the central government stooping so low. In contrast take the case of AK Antony, the Defence Minister of India, who hails from Kerala and how gentlemanly a stand he has taken in this issue, where he hasn’t taken any position in favour of Kerala but is working for finding an amicable solution to the issue. In a federal democratic system it is incumbent upon Union ministers to take a nationalistic stance in matters regarding conflict between two states. It is difficult to believe that a politician like Chidambaram, who is not only known for his high intelligence but also known for his disdain for anyone who falls below his intelligence quotient, would make a mistake by making such a statement. It is sure that he has taken a very wise position to influence the court’s decision in favour of Tamil Nadu. Moreover PC is now surrounded by many problems including the 2G scam issue and this seems to be his shrewd plan to get the support of the Tamil people if he is fired from the Cabinet on the issue, so that he can claim that he has fallen victim for his support of the Tamil cause in Mullaperiyar issue and thus gain martyrdom. PC’s allegation that political parties in Kerala have kicked up the dam row keeping an eye on the by-poll from Piravom constituency shows his political depravity. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should show courage (though it is not his wont to show courage) to kick out such senseless ministers from his Cabinet.
A few stray incidents of violence against Tamilians in Kerala had been reported earlier, but now things are coming to normalcy in Kerala as the state government took some rapid actions to stop such vandalism by a minority. At the same time, violence against Malayalees is on the rise in Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, Coimbaore and Tanjavur many shops of Malayalees have been attacked; in Gudalor a Kerala bound bus was set ablaze by attackers after asking passengers to alight, to name a few incidents. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader VS Achuthananthan have written letters to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to take steps to stop violence against Malayalees.
It is imperative for the Central Government to step in immediately and find an amicable political solution to the Mullaperiyar issue. Kerala has made the promise umpteen number of times that it is not against giving water to Tamil Nadu and even after building a new dam it is ready to give Tamil Nadu the same amount of water that it is drawing now. Kerala CM Oommen Chandy made the statement that Kerala’s stance is ‘water for Tamil Nadu, safety for Kerala.’ But Tamil Nadu CM, Jayalalithaa’s arrogance and intransigence have made it impossible for the central government to call upon both states for a discussion to find a solution to the issue. If the central government doesn’t have the political will to compel a state to come for discussion to solve an inter-state dispute, it is better for it to resign and go to exile.
I humbly appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu, our brothers and sisters, to not believe the misinformation propagated by the chauvinistic politicians and media of Tamil Nadu. (In Facebook I saw a Tamil brother saying that all the villages near the Mullaperiyar dam are above the water level of the dam and in the event of dam collapse water won’t flow upwards and therefore there is no need to panic in Kerala and all these are false propagation of political parties in Kerala; he can’t be blamed, may be that is how is being misinformed and made to believe.) We Malayalees are not against giving water to Tamil Nadu as many people there are made to believe by the unscrupulous politicians. We are ready to give water to your state in as much quantity as you are drawing now and what we want is only the safety to the life and property of the millions of people in our state living downstream the Mullaperiyar dam.
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