The Hindu Business Line : UPA’s tightrope walking

After the Leftist parties, it is now the turn of the so-called all-party meet held in Tamil Nadu on October 14 under the aegis of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the leading constituent of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), to threaten to pull the rug from under the feet of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition at the Centre.

I have purposely used the word ‘so called’ because it was boycotted by the All India Anna Dravida Munntetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which has a towering presence in Tamil Nadu; its ally, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) of Vaiko; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the parties; Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the All-India Samaththuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), led by veteran film personalities, Messrs. Vijaykanth and Sarath Kumar respectively.

Indeed, Vaiko, at one time a leading figure in the DMK, was a conspicuous champion of the cause of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), when the DMK supremo, Mr M. Karunanidhi, was on his back foot with reference to the LTTE in view of its hand in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Vaiko caused no little consternation to Mr Karunanidhi by his daring exploit of clandestinely visiting without his permission Mr Pirabhakaran, the LTTE chief, in his hideout and left the DMK to form his own MDMK.

He even suffered a long incarceration when the AIADMK Government prosecuted him under the dreaded Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for his support of LTTE. His absence from the all-party meet has certainly blunted the sharpness of the threat.

However, the UPA coalition cannot take lightly the call for the resignation of the MPs elected under the DPA’s banner. Such a move, if actually carried out, will rob the Government of its majority, forcing the Prime Minister either to tender his resignation and go for a general election, or to continue, as Indira Gandhi did in the 1960s, immediately after the Congress split, on the assumption that the dread of election earlier than due will make political parties hold their fire.

Precipitate action unlikely

The UPA is already vulnerable to charges of being weak-kneed in combating terrorism, compromising national security in its eagerness to appease vote-banks, its pandering to corrupt politicians, and its unsure approach to the economic issues bedevilling the country. The constituents of the UPA will not find it to their interest to add one more charge of ignoring the sentiments of the Tamils and letting its political opponents exploit it to its advantage in the coming election.

Hence, the UPA is walking the tight rope by confining its approach to the Sri Lankan Government to urging humanitarian aspects such as ensuring the safety and security for Tamils among the civilian population and reaching food aid, medical supplies and adequate shelter for those displaced by the operations against the LTTE.

Any other course will mean interfering in the exercise by the Sri Lankan Government of its sovereign decision-making authority in dealing with the LTTE, universally depicted as the most murderous and treacherous terrorist organisation which pioneered the technique of suicide bombing, and fly in the face of the measures it is taking to root out terrorism and separatist militant activities from its own soil.

The DPA too must be aware of this. It will not be a surprise if taking at face value the Government’s assurances of keeping collateral damage to the minimum, the DMK drops any idea of precipitate action. For, letting go the plums of office is no mean sacrifice.

B. S. RAGHAVAN

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