EXCLUSIVE: Karunanidhi talks about political alliance and elections
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Oneindia: You are known for taking decisions without much hesitations. Which was the decision you stagger a lot to take take?
Karunanidhi: As you said I have never wavered in taking any decisions.
Oneindia: It was you next to Anna in DMK, who is next to you?
Karunanidhi: DMK is biggest a democratic movement. So it will be decided by party's general body.
Oneindia: There is no area you haven't touched. According to you, where you haven't fared well?
Karunanidhi: I could have worked much harder and done better in all the the spheres, that's what I feel.
Oneindia: If your life history was going to be made as a film, who is best suited to do the role?
Karunanidhi: Why can't you give the chance to me only?
Oneindia: With so many years in public life, are you satisfied with the contribution you have given to Tamilians and Tamil Nadu?
Karunanidhi:
Leave
alone
my
satisfaction.
Are
you
satisfied?
I'm
still
working
for
the
cause
because
I'm
satisfied
with
what
I
have
done.
And
my
work
for
Tamilians
and
Tamil
Nadu
will
continue
till
my
last
day.
Oneindia: As a leader many people like you. Who are the leaders you like the most except Periyar and Anna?
Karunanidhi: I like all the leaders. There is no one I don't like. I want to behave in such a way that even those who don't like me should like me. If you ask me who are the leaders I like the most, then the list is, Kamarajar, Rajaji, Quaid E Millat, Indira Gandhi, my fried MGR, Posumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, Jyothi Basu, the protector of social justice VP Singh, Vajpayee, brother Jeeva, MaPoSi and many. It is a long list.
Oneindia: Did DMK pulled out of Congress because of the difference of opinion on Eelam issue?
Karunanidhi: Not only that. Though congress central leaders were thankful and showed love and affection to me, few of the congress State level leaders were entirely opposite in their attitude. This is also a reason for split.
I would like to play my own self in a movie: Karunanidhi
Oneindia: Anti-communalism is the basis of Dravidian movement. But despite being a party of Dravidian movement, why DMK is not categorical in saying we won't align with BJP?
Karunanidhi: I told in DMK general body that, for us the chapter of BJP was over with Vajpayee. Was it not categorical? And after the meet where journalists asked me whether DMK was going to contest without Congress and BJP in the alliance, I answered yes and told we will contest only with the parties who are with us.
Oneindia: Gujarat riots happened when Vajpayee was PM. What is the difference you see between the BJP of Vajpayee era and present BJP?
Karunanidhi: We have pulled out of BJP immediately after the BJP was under Vajpyee changed its path. Don't you know?
Oneindia: In Tamil Nadu, DMK was generally friendly with left parties. But in recent years why is there no friendship between your party and left?
Karunanidhi: When I spoke in DMK general body meeting recently, I said: ''We are not bothered about what is the name of the party. But we are bothered about who is heading the party, how they are, how much they like us and how much they respect us. That is the criteria. It applies to Left-DMK friendship too. Alliance and friendships are no one way route. As far as I'm concerned, DMK is always inclined toward left parties and their philosophy.
Oneindia: Despite DMDK breaking its alliance with AIADMK, why is DMK not able to rope in Vijaykanth to its side?
Karunanidhi: The environment is like that, we are not able to understand each other well.
Oneindia: In your experience, do you think Eelam will ever be a issue in Tamil Nadu election scene?
Karunanidhi:
Eelam
issue
will
definitely
have
an
impact
in
future
elections.
What
is
important
is,
the
people
should
understand
who
is
really
working
for
the
cause
of
the
Eelam
Tamils
and
who
is
pretending
to
work.
Tamilians
all
around
the
world
have
started
to
recognise
the
people
who
are
exploiting
the
Eelam
issue
for
their
personal
gains
Oneindia:
In
Kanchi
Shankarraman
murder
case,
DMK'ss
parent
party
DK
is
protesting
against
the
acquittal
of
Shankarachariyars
and
asking
the
State
to
appeal
against
the
judgment.
but
why
is
DMK
so
silent?
Karunanidhi: I don't generally comment against court judgments. Don't you know?
Oneindia: People who were chanting Dravidianism, Dravidars mantra are now bashing it. What is your take on it?
Karunanidhi:
People
who
didn't
knew
the
historical
values,
scientific
thoughts
on
Dravidianism,
Dravidars
are
the
ones
who
are
opposing
it
now.
They
were
praising
it
once
just
for
emotive
reasons.
We
have
to
see
how
long
they
are
going
to
stick
to
their
present
stand.
Oneindia: In internet and social media, DMK is the most criticised party. Have you taken any steps to counter them?
Karunanidhi: I know that on internet, not only DMK, but all the parties are being ridiculed. This is because of the mentality of taking everything so easily and ridiculing them. It will go on for some time. Then the counter measures will automatically evolve.
Oneindia: The tragic ethnic war in Eelam is still midway and raises the question whether it concluded or not. At this juncture, what will be the right solution for the Eelam Tamilians?
Karunanidhi: The Brave leader and great warrior who fought for Eelam Tamilians with great stuff was brutally murdered by uncivilized army in the War. They even ravaged his movement. Now the helpless Eelam Tamils compromised and decided to live there with minimum necessities, but without anymore threat. They all mentally in big shock and even not know the way or side of their future. Some financially well off people have flown abroad and started a new beginning.
Some people here (TN) are thinking that 'donating supportive words' (giving voice) is the biggest sacrifice or duty to Eelam Tamilians and still continuing the same.
The right solution at this stage is, the UNO should conduct a memorandum among the Eelam Tamilians spread worldwide with the support of world communities and countries. This will help the Eelam Tamilians to take a correct and convenient political decision on their own. This is my wish and appeal to the world.
Oneindia: From 1996 you have took part in United Front, NDF and UPA govts. Political world knows you are an expert in predicting the winners or losers of the election. Maybe now also you may have an idea of the winner of 2014 General elections. Who will be the winner or loser in the 2014 election? If a non Congress rule comes at the center, what would be the role of DMK in that government?
Karunanidhi: The General Election is nearing in few months. At this stage, it is not good to answer or express opinions to this kind of questions based on assumptions.
In 2014, the govt will form by the party that gets majority in the election. It is not possible to answer a question whether Narendra Modi will form the government at the center.
Oneindia: Chief Ministers Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik are governing their states very well and winning the elections continuously. But in TN, UP, Kerala, people are changing the governments in every election. Your comments?
Karunanidhi:
I
won't
accept
the
point
that
by
giving
good
governance,
you
can
win
again.
At
the
same
time,
I
cannot
accept
that
in
TN,
Kerala
and
UP
ruling
parties
failed
to
give
a
good
administration,
so
we
are
losing
the
elections.
In fact, people want change every time, so they are voting against the ruling parties, that is the fact. The political observers will accept this point.
Oneindia: AAP has made a turning point in Delhi politics. Political observers see this as great change in the Indian polity. Will the urban India embrace this new party?
Karunanidhi: Let us wait and watch.
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