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Journalism of Courage
CHENNAI/PANAJI, April 1: Once again, the BJP-led government fumbled for a response to an ultimatum from AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha before backtracking and giving in to her demand. Panic spread when Jayalalitha threatened to withdraw support 8220;in an hour8221; if Prime Minister A B Vajpayee did not disown Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam8217;s adverse remarks against her.
Kumaramangalam had said yesterday that Cabinet decisions were a collective responsibility and had criticised Jayalalitha for attacking the government on the Bhagwat issue despite her party being a ruling partner. But following her threat, he 8220;clarified8221; that his comments 8220;regarding collective responsibility did not need the approval of the Prime Minister.8221;
Whether this placates Jayalalitha 8212; or whether she wants a more categorical rebuttal 8212; is hard to tell. What was clear was that her threat rattled the BJP top brass now in Panaji for the national executive. Ironically, earlier this morning, Vajpayee had said that his government would continue to enjoy a majority even if the AIADMK withdrew support. He left Panaji later to witness the naval exercises aboard INS Viraat somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
The AIADMK8217;s stinging reaction to Kumaramangalam8217;s statement, issued in Chennai, said: 8220;He Prime Minister need only tell us that he agrees with Kumaramangalam and in one hour we will be at the Rashtrapati Bhavan informing the President that we are no longer supporting the government that does not want us to stay in it.8221; It was signed by V R Nedunchezhian and seven other party seniors.
The statement said that since Kumaramangalam was a Cabinet minister belonging to the BJP,they were taking his words seriously. 8220;In case the Prime Minister does not clarify the position of the BJP in the matter, our party will not be responsible for the consequences that follow,8221; they said.
A clarification from Vajpayee was necessary as 8220;we are not aware that he Kumaramangalam has been appointed the de facto prime minister and given authority to speak on behalf of the Vajpayee government,8221; they said.
Asserting that the AIADMK was not worried about either alternative alliances or fresh elections, its leaders said that 8220;there are tested friends from the past who have in 1996 been cleansed of undesirable elements who can be our allies.8221; The allusion obviously was to the Congress from which the AIADMK8217;s adversaries G K Moopanar and P Chidambaram had walked out to form the Tamil Maanila Congress.
The AIADMK leaders also accused the Samata Party, Trinamool Congress and a section of the BJP of functioning in a manner 8220;guaranteed to ensure the collapse of his government8221; and wanted theprime minister to take up with them their 8220;tendentious and malicious8221; statements against Jayalalitha.
They said that the AIADMK had several times made it clear that it would not be responsible for the fall of the government. 8220;However, when a section of the BJP and the friends of this faction in other parties are determined to bring down the government, then there is little we can do,8221; he added.
About Mamata Banerjee8217;s endorsement of Kumaramangalam8217;s remarks, the AIADMK leaders dubbed them 8220;intemperate and in extremely poor taste.8221;
This statement coincided with Law Minister Thambi Durai8217;s retort to Kumaramangalam in the Capital in which he dubbed Kumaramangalam8217;s remark 8220;totally uncalled for.8221; He said the minister8217;s commnets reflect his confused state of mind and 8220;desperation to please his new masters,8221; he said.
Durai also attacked Mamata saying that quite a few Cabinet decisions had been put on hold or not implemented just to appease her.
He criticised the Samata Party forspreading 8220;misleading reports8221; about Jayalalitha8217;s stand on the Bhagwat isuue. He pointed out that Jayalalitha had never said that Fernandes was involved in corruption but demanded that the charges levelled against him by the sacked Admiral be probed.
