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The Rediff Election Interview/Subramanian Swamy

'Karunanidhi and his son are looting the state'

Jayalalitha was routed last year. And now she is expected to win many seats. Why did it happen so soon?

Because this is a highly corrupt government and there is a breakdown of law and order. Increase in unemployment. Chidamabaram has ruined the economy. He has turned out to be a third-rate failure as finance minister. Karunanidhi and his son are looting the state. People are fed up.

Now that the BJP is also part of your alliance, do you call them communal?

They say they have alliance with only the AIADMK, not with me. You go and ask them, do you have an alliance with Swamy or not? Then tell me.

Do you feel they are communal?

See, it doesn't matter what I feel. It is a group decision.

Yes, it is a group decision. But has your opinion about the BJP changed?

My opinons and feelings are of no importance right now because I am not in a deciding position.

Still, what is your opinion about the BJP now?

Why should I have an opinion about the BJP? You ask Jayalalitha this question. I can only say, if they pursue communal policeis, I as Subramanian Swamy will prevent them from doing so. I will not allow them to discriminate against the Muslims or other minorities. That much I can say.

Are they really anti-Muslim now? Is this secular image a mask?

I rather not speak about this because they happened to be an ally of Jayalalitha. Why should I speak? I can only say, if the BJP government comes and misbehaves with the minorities, Swamy will be there to protect them.

If they try to build a temple at Ayodhya?

Forcibly? I will thoroughly oppose it. Because they have no right to do that. They cannot say that their devotion to Ram is higher than the Constitution of India. If their devotion is so much, let them go and build a temple at Dhanushkodi which is lying in ruins. If they are such great bhakts of Shiva, let them go and fight with China and bring back Mansarovar.

About the economy. What can we learn from the South East Asian crisis?

Nothing. The whole economy of India has been messed up by Chidambaram and fools like you pressmen. All of you described it as a dream Budget! I wrote in The Hindu that it was a conman's Budget. All the mathematics is bogus. That son of a rich man knows nothing about this country.

The problem with our country is that we don't ask for equality in treatment. They want free flow of capital into our country. Why do they not allow free flow of labour into their country? Tell me what is the reason why they don't allow people to migrate to the United States as and when they like? Why is this visa restriction? We are stupid, weak people and we are slaves. Like Mr Chidambaram who looks like a waiter in a five star restaurant with a suit and boot and tie when he is there. He kowtows to them.

You should tell them on their face, if you want freedom of movement of capital, you give us equal freedom of movement of labour. What is the difference between capital and labour? They are both factors of production. This is what the Americans call a level playing field.

What you need is a finance minister who can tell the world, we are ready to adjust our economy for globalisation, but you also adjust. The second part, nobody is telling.

The BJP is talking about swadeshi...

How did they give Enron a clearance? The 13 days Vajpayee was prime minister, he cleared only that one project. Why? What is their explanation? Why do they drink Coca-Cola in their working committee meetings, and not nimbu pani?

I don't know what they mean by Swadeshi. Not that they have any right or not.

The Rediff Election Interviews