DMK scales down, but no 'fast' relief for state

CHENNAI: If the Supreme Court ruling on Sunday against the proposed bandh in Tamil Nadu by the DMK-led DPA came as relief to the general public, Monday turned out to be an “awakening of a different kind”. With the DPA constituents on Sunday evening announcing their intent to rather observe a fast to press for early completion of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), for the common man out there on the street, the hardships had just begun.

For others, especially regular office-goers who depend on the public transport, the politicians had plenty of surprises in store. Once out, what hit them was a virtual “bandh-like situation”, with most shops shut and buses keeping off roads, well almost.

The situation was no different across the state. But the state-owned IMFL retail units of Tasmac went about their business as usual from 10 am onwards.

For the ruling coalition, the business was quite on the expected lines. The leaders led by chief minister and DMK president, M Karunanidhi, Union ministers GK Vasan and EVKS Elangovan, PMK founder S Ramadoss and CPI national leader and Rajya Sabha MP, D Raja, assembled in front of the state guest house in Chepauk, along with party cadres, to go on a hunger strike. Several ministers of the ruling DMK, too, were in attendance. It was a similar scene throughout the state, where even police teams were deployed to offer protection to the agitating members.

In Chennai, it was the CM himself who set the tone and tenor of the proceedings. “Observing fast cannot be seen as acting against the apex court orders. Shop owners have closed their establishments on their own to extend moral support to the fast,” those participating in the fast said. Transport personnel, expressing their solidarity, kept away from work.

While speaking at Chepauk, Union minister TR Baalu wondered whether everything was right with the judiciary. Later in the evening, state minister MK Stalin, also present at the venue, sought to find out what actions were initiated against Kerala and Karnataka for not carrying out Supreme Court verdict on Mullaiperiyar and Cauvery water disputes.

As the apex court strictures came in on Monday morning, a rattled Mr Karunanidhi hurriedly left the fasting venue for the state secretariat. Soon after, Mr Ramadoss, Mr Elangovan and Mr Vasan followed suit.

The fasting was abandoned, at least by the leaders, as none of them returned to the fast venue. “There is no constitutional breakdown in the state,” Mr Karunanidhi told reporters at Fort St George. The Opposition, AIADMK, which had moved the Supreme Court on Saturday and again on Monday morning, did not react on the developments, until Monday evening.