Q/ Is the DMK the biggest challenge for the BJP and hindutva organisations in Tamil Nadu?
A/ The people of Tamil Nadu will not give any space to any party which undermines the historic social harmony and the principle of equality in the state. The BJP government at the Centre has been implementing schemes which are inimical to the progress of Tamil Nadu, has denied proper employment to our youth, and has made laws to trouble the peasants. It spends the revenue accrued from Tamil Nadu on north Indian states. No other Central government has discriminated so much against Tamil Nadu. Whatever the BJP and its leaders say about Tamil Nadu, it is only for publicity. As far as I am concerned, it is natural for the people of Tamil Nadu to show their hatred towards the BJP, which is against the basic tenets of the Dravidian movement, including Tamil language, culture, social justice and social harmony.
Q/How do you look at the performance of the Narendra Modi government?
A/The Modi government is not for the people, not for the farmers, not for the women, not for the poor and not for the middle-class. Petrol and diesel prices are rising, the GST is hurting businesses and huge taxes are being levied on the poor and the middle-class. This government is ready to write off millions of crores of corporate loans, but it has refused to waive farmers’ debts. It makes people think that Modi as prime minister works just for corporate companies.
The Modi government does not respect the basic tenets of the Constitution. The constitutional and the legal systems are under threat. Democracy is faltering, while dictatorship is thriving. The Modi government does not even respect the legitimate sentiments of the farmers who have been been fighting tirelessly for more than 100 days. A person who has sought votes under the slogan of development has been blindly implementing his own agenda, indifferent to public concerns. Modi only follows the dictates of the RSS. His only job is to overthrow legitimate governments in the states and Union territories. Freedom of expression has been shackled. The media and the intellectual elites face repression if they criticise the government. Modi is running an undeclared emergency.
Q/Will the DMK continue to oppose the BJP even after the elections?
A/The DMK is the third-largest party in India. It has opposed the Citizenship Amendment (Act), the three agrarian laws which are against farmers, the abolition of special status for Kashmir and the 10 per cent quota for the economically backward [among the general category]. We are at the forefront of the fight against disrespecting state rights. We will continue to oppose any attempt to impose right-wing thinking in the country.
Q/What do you think of the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi?
A/On burning issues, the Congress and its young leader Rahul Gandhi are fighting the BJP fiercely. The abuse of power by the BJP government is being curtailed to some extent because he and the Congress are raising their voices for the affected people.
Q/Some say the Congress is alive in Tamil Nadu only because of the DMK.
A/I do not want to say that. We are allies. We face elections as partners on the strength of each other. Ours is the longest-running coalition since 2004, with the exception of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress gives us strength; and we give strength to the Congress. We travel together with a sense of camaraderie.
Q/Is it true that you faced much pressure to drop the Congress from the DMK-led alliance?
A/The DMK is not under any pressure unlike the AIADMK. It is a valiant movement that opposed the Emergency even at the cost of its government. Only the DMK decides about its alliances.
Q/What do you think of the BJP’s ‘one country, one election’ plan?
A/This is practically impossible. The DMK does not support it.
Q/How do you assess the performance of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami?
A/Palaniswami has ruined Tamil Nadu. He mortgaged the dignity of the post of the chief minister. He surrendered to the selfish interests of the Central government to escape corruption charges. Commission, collection and corruption are his agenda as chief minister. He has failed to create employment opportunities, promote business development and set up infrastructure projects. He has increased Tamil Nadu’s debt to Rs5 lakh crore. The state has gone back 50 years under him.
United we stand: Supporters of the DMK and the Congress campaign for their candidate K.N. Nehru in Tiruchirappalli | PTI
Q/What are your views on Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam?
A/The articles which appeared in THE WEEK about Panneerselvam are evidence of his corruption. His vision involves corruption and amassing wealth. Both Panneerselvam and Palaniswami are corrupt and are keen on sharing loot. They are not interested in serving the people. After his ‘dharmayudh’ and his vote against the Palaniswami government, he was made deputy chief minister. Although he was a three-time chief minister, he did not appear before the inquiry commission probing the mysterious death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Panneerselvam is a corrupt leader who betrayed his ‘mother’.
Q/The AIADMK and the BJP have levelled allegations of corruption against the DMK.
A/The AIADMK and the BJP are making futile attempts to divert attention from the corruption allegations against them. What was the compulsion of the BJP to join hands with the AIADMK? Why did Modi and Amit Shah legitimise the AIADMK government? Why is the Centre honouring the AIADMK government by giving it awards, although it has failed in all fields? What benefit does the BJP get out of this? Just 20 seats? The people of Tamil Nadu know the underlying secret behind the BJP-AIADMK alliance and the reason why Modi is holding aloft the hands of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam during the election campaign.
Q/Do you think the decision to give 10.5 per cent reservation for the Vanniyars will help the AIADMK?
A/The DMK was the first party to add the Vanniyar community to the list of the most backward classes with a reservation of 20 per cent. We were the first to accept the internal reservation request and to implement it. That is why the Vanniyar youth have benefited in education and employment. The Vanniyar community is well aware of the achievements of the DMK. Therefore, all sections of society, including the Vanniyar community, will support the DMK alliance and make it victorious.
Q/What is your view on Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan? He calls himself a disciple of Periyar and also a Dravidian.
A/Dravidian policies belong to the parties which follow Dravidian ideology. No political party can thrive in Tamil Nadu without using those names. That is why Kamal also says so.
Q/What is the role of Kanimozhi in the party? After the death of Murasoli Maran, she has become the face of the DMK in Delhi.
A/My younger sister Kanimozhi is doing a very good job, both in the Lok Sabha and also in Tamil Nadu. She has participated in many programmes across Tamil Nadu and has been campaigning vigorously. She is a voice for women’s rights and also for raising the problems of Tamil Nadu in Delhi.
Q/You came up in the DMK after going through many struggles. Can we say that your son, Udhayanidhi, does not have to face such an environment?
A/All DMK workers have a political future according to their work. I have come to this position after half a century of hard work. Udhayanidhi went around the state and campaigned during the parliamentary elections. Even now, he is campaigning. He has participated in many protests, especially for the youth and the students. So, how can you say that such an environment is not available for Udayanidhi?
Q/If you form the government after the elections, how will your relations with the Centre be? What will be the nature of your political relations with the BJP?
A/The relationship between the Central government and the state governments is based on the federal philosophy as laid down in our Constitution. The DMK government will act accordingly. The DMK-led government will be fully committed to upholding the rights of the states. We will work keeping in mind the concept of developing a harmonious and smooth relationship with the Central government. The BJP and the DMK are not partners in an alliance. So the question of a political relationship with the BJP after the electoral victory does not arise.