The Hindu : Q & A: Vaiko

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

Q & A: Vaiko

After 19 months of detention for making a pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam speech, the first MP to be held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), Vaiko, looks unperturbed. However, his stand on several issues, including the support for Tamil Eelam, remains unchanged. The general secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has emerged as a star campaigner for the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu. Amidst his busy campaign schedule, Mr. Vaiko found time to speak to S. Vijay Kumar in Madurai. Excerpts:

How did detention under POTA affect your political career?

Though POTA is a draconian law used for political vendetta, it was a boon for me. During the 19-month imprisonment, I had time for self-introspection. The party cadres remained disciplined. The relationship between the MDMK and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) strengthened. The visit of the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, to the Vellore prison on two occasions was a turning point in my career. POTA helped me get a Supreme Court verdict on the right to freedom of expression.

After a decade of existence, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the MDMK?

The MDMK has become a formidable political force in Tamil Nadu because of the trials and tribulations it had to face during the last decade. The rank and file have fought heavy odds, including defeats and repression unleashed by the ruling fascist regime. The strong cadre base is our strength; our commitment to conviction, weakness. Voting for the POTA, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alliances were some of our mistakes.

Your open support to the LTTE has often landed you in trouble. Would you draw a line between Tamil Eelam and the LTTE?

There is no question of drawing a line between Tamil Eelam and the LTTE because they go together. The international community has recognised LTTE as the sole representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils. India should change its policy (on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue) and play a key role in the peace process. We should also take geo-political interests into consideration, since some imperialistic forces are trying to capture Trincomalee. The `Karuna factor,' magnified by some vested interests, will fizzle out soon.

Will the results of the Lok Sabha elections have a bearing on the 2006 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu?

Definitely. The poll outcome will be an interim referendum on the AIADMK Government. The Vajpayee brand will not work since basic facilities are yet to reach the grassroots, including farmers and weavers. While only a section of the privileged class is enjoying the benefits of science and technology, I wonder where India is shining.

The Dravidian parties have been taking turns to align with the BJP once in five years. Do you think this can be justified in the voter's point of view?

I do not justify this. Frequent changes make people lose faith in parties. The MDMK joined the National Democratic Alliance to usher in a new era of secularism and communal harmony. However, the Sangh Parivar injected venom in the political veins of the Government though we offered resistance time and again. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is a pragmatic leader. But he is vulnerable and some crucial decisions are taken without his knowledge. It is time to put a check on [the] Hindutva forces. India should take a lesson from Spain where the people held the ruling party responsible for the Madrid bombings and voted it out.

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