Chennai Corner

Kanimozhi's Political Tricks
Rajya Sabhja MP Kanimozhi's rather dramatic resignation on Wednesday waspure posturing. The fact that she gave her post-dated letter to daddy dearest(CM M Karunanidhi) and not the Rajya Sabha Chairman makes it clear that she ismilking the story for all it is worth. Incidentally, all political parties herehave been shedding crocodile tears for "human rights" violations inSri Lanka with no concept of Delhi's foreign policy. But, by her action and thesubsequent media play she got, Kanimozhi has proved that she is truly a chip ofthe old block. I hope M.K. Azhagiri, who has acquired the image of a muscle man,and M.K. Stalin, who is perceived as being too soft, are watching little sisterfor tips. 

And while on the subject, the faction-ridden Congress is critical of TNCCchief K.V. Thangabalu for allowing himself to get bamboozled into agreeing towithdraw Congress MPs from the UPA. First off, has Thangabalu forgotten history?I remember P. Chidambaram, currently the finance minister and the poster boy ofthe pink press, calling a press conference every week at his residence inupscale Nungambakkam 17 years ago to attack the DMK for sleeping with the LTTE.And some months later, in May 1991, the Congress' "beloved" former PMRajiv Gandhi was killed in a ghastly bomb explosion by the LTTE. Since then,even if one makes allowances for the political opportunism that has now broughtthe Congress-DMK together, the Congress at least shows sensitivity towards theirpresident Sonia Gandhi's feelings and makes suitable noises vis a vis the LTTE.Thus Thangabalu can expect the knives to be out for him for succumbing to theDMK. And to quote Subramiam Swamy, it is "stupid" to think Chidambaramwill meekly fall in line with Thangabalu's commitment at the all-party meetingin Chennai especially when he is fire-fighting the financial tsunami that hashit India.

Is He Really Confused?
No one could have put it better. And it took a section of superstar Rajnikanth'slegions of fans – he is believed to have 50,000 fan associations – to tellit like it is. Posters put in Madurai and Theni districts said: Thalaiva,neeyum kuzhambi, engalaiyum kuzhappaadhey (Leader, do not get confused andconfuse us too). The fans were reacting to Rajni's statement this week sayingfirmly: "No one can force me to enter politics, but if I decide to enterpolitics, no one can stop me." While this is not the first time thatRajni's fans have wanted their beloved thalaiva to enter politics, thisis the first time they have been proactive. The Rajini Rasigar Mandram (RajniFans Association) in Coimbatore even set up the Desiya Dravidar Makkal MunnetraKazhagam and came up with a flag that had red, white and black bands with a bluestar with Rajnikanth's smiling visage in the middle.

To be fair it was obvious there was one upmanship between his fan associations– Rajni Babu, president of the Mandram, in Coimbatore attributed wall postersseeking his removal to "underhand tricks" of four members who were notmade office bearers – and Rajnikanth did not want to get in the middle of thismess. Secondly, despite, Kuselan delivering a dud at the box office, Rajni isthe most bankable star in Tamil cinema. And currently, as he pointed out, he isvery busy with the making of Shankar's Aendhiran (Robot) with AishwaryaRai Bachchan (by the way, she calls him "Rajni uncle"). 

The Superstar vs Flopstar Debate
While "megastar" Chiranjeevi from Telugu tinseltown, currently on aroad show in Andhra Pradesh, might have prodded his fans into trying to get theSuperstar to commit to a political role, Rajni is wary because he knows politicsis like a snake pit. In 1996, he stuck his neck out, famously saying "IfJayalalitha comes to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu." His famousPoes Garden neighbour, known to harbour grudges, has not forgiven him for thisalthough he tried to make amends in 2004 by saying his vote was for theBJP-AIADMK combine but told fans "I leave the decision to you." Sincethen Rajni has kept away from what his friend, the Big B, once called the"cesspool." 

But unlike Chiranjeevi, who displayed extraordinary naiveté when he launchedPraja Rajyam by saying many of the issues that resonate with the AP electoratewere "sensitive and need scientific study", Rajni is better informed.He also knows, stating his political proclivities gets his films in trouble ashappened to Kuselan. So let's just say he knows which side of the breadis buttered and would prefer to be a superstar in cinema than a flopstar inpolitics.

Churches Get Security
Although it was a sacked watchman who vandalized a church in Annanagarrecently, the Christian community in Chennai (6.1 per cent in 2004 according toone website) saw it as a reflection of a larger phenomenon that has grippedparts of India. They are very distressed at the attacks in Erode and Coimbatore.As one of them put it, "We have never felt like a minority here and havebeen brought up in a Hindu culture. So we are very upset at these attacks."The attacks in Orissa and Karnataka have also caused anxiety. At the same time,there is recognition that the government here moved immediately and nipped anyfurther attacks in the bud. A meeting was held recently with the policecommissioner in which Christian leaders expressed their fears. But, as ADGP (lawand order) T. Rajendran says, "Groups like the Bajrang Dal do not have astrong presence in the state. In any case, the police have an eye on them." The Chennai suburban police have increased security at more than 150 churches inthe St Thomas Mount area alone. The protection is especially for waysidechurches. Many church volunteers have also come forward to help the policemaintain security. As one volunteer put it, "Our intention is to preventrather than allow things to escalate so that political parties will jump in andbenefit." Well said.