|
|
|
|
|
| HOME | NEWS | DEAR REDIFF | |||
|
ASSEMBLY POLL '98
|
|
|
'A weak man is the best toy a spoiled woman can ask for. In Vajpayee, Jaya has found one'
E-mail from readers the world over
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 03:16:04 PST I would like to offer a few thoughts on the current crisis, particularly given the nature of the present mandate and the parliamentary system as they are very pertinent to the present situation. In 1998, when elections were held, the people of TN were offered a choice, essentially between two fronts. This was the second time in less than two years that an election was being held. At the time, Jaya's political future had hit the doldrums. They had on one side the third front holding the centre stage at Chennai, a ruling coalition of TMC and DMK backed by the all popular Rajnikanth fighting a combination of the AIADMK, MDMK and PMK along with the BJP. The forces were very evenly matched. Had this been a state election it would have been difficult to tell who would have won. But this was not a state election. This was a central election and the people of TN had to make a different choice this time. On the one side they had the TMC and DMK which had participated in the shaky coalition governments of Gowda and Gujral, and the other there was going to be the BJP government. The all important difference was that the BJP had a prime ministerial candidate and that their coalition had promoted Vajpayee as its prime ministerial candidate. This clear message with the promise of stability was what they voted. It was not to vindicate Jayalalitha's income tax problems or to make Dr Swamy powerbroker or hold conspiratorial tea parties. There was no projection of Swamy as finance minister or for that matter prime minister of a coalition government headed by the Congress. To those who view this line of reasoning as spurious, I would point to the history of Tamil Nadu elections in the last 20 years when they have voted differently for and against the leadership at Chennai. For instance, in 1980, at the peak of MG Ramachandran's power, the Congress won hands down although he supported the Janata-BJP coalition. In 1984 they voted Congress, in 1989 they voted against Congress, in 1991 they voted the Congress to power and in 1996 they voted against Jaya and Narasimha Rao. The separation of central and state politics has been clear in their minds. This has not been emphasised in the press. By taking the mandate directly to the people the BJP, along with its allies, the MDMK and the PMK in coalition with either DMK or TMC or both, would have no trouble in reestablishing their majority with some help from their erstwhile ally Rajnikanth. Amma and Akka beware, TN's voters are unforgiving. They have only one vote each but they send telling messages with it. As for Dr Swamy, your degrees impress us but you must learn to be a man of the people and respect their wishes. No amount of smart and clever politicking is any substitute for popularity in the field of politics. Or at least that is what MGR's charisma taught us.
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 07:48:46 -0800 I wonder why nobody mentioned it to the Puratchi Thalaivi that she is the most hated politician in India, next only to Laloo Prasad. The lady mentions that every powerful lady politician in South Asia has risen to positions of prominence only because of their family background, excluding her and Mamata Banerjee. Well, she forgets the fact that the only reason she is the chief of the AIADMK this day is due to her proximity with MGR. He was the man that brought her into the limelight. Otherwise she would have died an ignominious death in the film world, with her acting talent almost questionable. Srinivas Murthy
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 02:07:44 EST I guess you at Rediff have nothing better to do than interview people like Jaya and Laloo. I am stupid enough to continue to read garbage like this. Laloo's statements at least provided some laughs but Jaya's, I think it's better to watch her old movies. Vishal
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 01:36:13 EST I had a problem with one of the questions asked during the interview. "A lot of the BJP allies are unhappy. So would you put the cause of the BJP's attitude down to inexperience or sheer indifference?" It was a leading question offering false choices. This betrays the interviewer's biased opinion regarding the matter. There could have been a third choice such as the unreasonable demands made by the allies in general and Jayalalitha in particular. Please keep your opinions out of the news. Here's an idea -- present the facts and let us make up our own opinion.
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 17:40:37 -0500 It is more of an ego-trip by JJ. Put your web space to better use by not giving us the second part of this tale. Guru
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 10:19:06 -0600 I felt J Jayalalitha was acting throughout her interview, putting on the mask of a popular film actress. There is no honesty at all in any of her statements. It is most unfortunate that such a corrupt person gets so much public adulation. I don't understand if the people are blind or they don't care anyway.
Manjunath (Manju) Basappa
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 00:43:08 -0600 I think the Rediff interview with Jayalalitha was nothing but a waste of time, yours, compiling it, mine, reading it. It looked more like a PR exercise done by Rediff for the Madam from south. The tone of the interview was one of sucking up, to say the least. She may be a voracious reader and knows about everything under the sun (or so she wants us to believe). With all her wisdom it's no wonder Jayalalitha considers herself to be a goddess and allows people, sometimes twice her age, prostrate before her. Now that the lady has set her eyes on the bigger pie called national politics, god save India!! Can't help but wonder why it took three guys from Rediff to quiz her about her movies, hobbies and whether she would like to meditate. Not a single worthwhile question. All she did in the last one year along with Subramanian Swamy was to take the country from one crisis to another. She claims she has no personal ambitions but wouldn't mind helping herself to the prime minister's chair. So charitable of her!! Kiran Nair
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 06:40:34 -0600 Once your party has accepted to be a part of the current government and accepted Vajpayee as the leader of the Union, you should not act like the Opposition. You must be the staunch supporter, your loyalty is your responsibility. Do not be an irresponsible politician. Spend time constructively and help the nation advance. Patel
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 19:34:48 -0800 The interview is nothing but waste of precious time. The people who interviewed her have been leading Jayalalitha. Amma will not get any more concession from the BJP government. She will soon feel the gravity of her problems. V Menon
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 11:14:02 -0500 I remember another article in Rediff by Harsha which conveys the sentiments echoed in the second para of this article. At a time when 100- odd innocent people died due to a natural disaster, our so-called politicians were partying and making merry. Pathetic isn't? Good job Arti! Couldn't you make it more aggressive and continue to expose the so-called power brokers and politicians? Krishna
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 10:39:43 -0600 (CST) Arti Dwarkadas managed to capture the decadent atmosphere prevalent at Mr Swamy's tea party. It is almost as if the current Indian setup has reached a cul-de-sac like the last days of the Mughal empire. Vajpayee is so much like Mohammed Rangeela? Nobody cares about the earthquake in Garhwal about the Indian jawans in Kashmir and NE, the lawlessness in Bihar and Delhi, the staggering fiscal deficit. The first Hindu government in Delhi since Prithviraj Chauhan has been taken over by events it no longer controls. No wonder people are hoarding gold and getting ready for a long period of unrest and plundering that will follow once the government finally collapses. Sanjay Chawla
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 12:58:45 +0530 A very well written and perceptive piece. Congratulations to the author and thanks to you for putting it in. Parakala
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 12:59:38 +0400 The language could have done with a little editing. Example: "The most good looking MP in Parliament." 1. The superlative form of good is best (the best looking MP). 2. "Parliament" in the phrase "MP in Parliament" is otiose and a tautology. (Member of Parliament in Parliament!) It would have been better to name the persons rather than keep the readers guessing as to their identity. The rest of the article, however, was good.
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 20:47:50 +0500 The report gives hope that there is still hard core journalism left in some! But for how long? What a party! Where the host is trying to get at the defence minister who is perhaps the most liked by the jawans! Jayalalitha wants to oust the defence minister. She has extracted whatever she could from the BJP. The funny aspect is that the BJP cannot talk about what they have given because they will be held guilty for giving it and not she for receiving. She has no use for Vajpayee anymore. She is eyeing the defence, petroleum, urban development, power, communication ministry etc. Why not? A weak man is the best toy a spoiled woman can ask for. In Vajpayee, Jaya has found one. All those who went for the tea were not mourning the dead in the Chamoli earthquake. Why should they? In fact, they were rejoicing at the smell of death (of a sarkar) in the air. These merchants of death, can they be called our national leaders? They wanted a political earthquake. But most of the countrymen, I am sure would sincerely wish that a real earthquake devours the leadership and media in Delhi. It will be good riddance for the country. Perez
|
||
|
HOME |
NEWS |
BUSINESS |
SPORTS |
MOVIES |
CHAT |
INFOTECH |
TRAVEL
SHOPPING HOME | BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | HOTEL RESERVATIONS PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL | FEEDBACK |
||