Sunday, March 20, 2005
DMK-Premkumar nexxus?
www.vikatan.com/jv/2005/mar/20032005/jv0101.asp
'Mister Eagle' gossip column - Excerpts relevant to Sankaracharya case.
[We repeat the requisite admonishment about the quality of what passes for journalism at vikatan, these days. Nevertheless, this piece was intriguing enough to ineterest us. Especially since news vikatan credits to police sources has been uncannily on-target in the past ... (eg. their prediction that the Goonda's Act would be invoked in this case a matter of months before it actually was).]
"Jayendra [Swamigal] came to two courts on the same day, right?"
[Mister Eagle]: "Mmm. When he came to First Magistrate Court for both the Thirukkotiyur Madhavan case and the Ravi Subrmaniam threat case, there were no uniformed police to be seen at all! After waiting in the van itself from 10:15 to 11:30 am, Jayendra [Swamigal] entered the court hall after the Magistrate called him in. Although khakhi uniform were not to be had, police intelligence were all over there in 'mufti' [undercover or plainsclothes].
The intelligence officers were keeping a keen eye and noting closely Ramana and Janakiraman, who had submitted [the court-ordered] special personal bond of Rs. 25,000. Without forgetting to bless them, Jayendrar [Swamigal] set off for the second court.
There, his lawyer presented him for the Ravi Subramaniam threat case. Here, both Balaji and Sudarshan gave personal bond of Rs. 5000 and they also got blessings. When Jayendra [Swamigal] was waiting in the van, outside the court, the children from a famous school nearby crowded around the van to watch. Following the order from the van, pictures of Ganesh and Murugan were distributed to the schoolchildren by the Mutt people.
The local DK [Dravida Kazhagam] people have begun gossipping: 'This is a Christian school. Why should Hindu Gods' pictures be distributed to the kids from there?*' But that's a whole other story."
"OK. Mr. Eagle, there is a case about the mysterious death of a Thirukkurungudi temple employee. What is the status there?"
"I am going to tell you a rumor that is circulating in police circles. Recently, Premkumar went to the area [ie Thirukkurungudi] regarding this case. On the way, a DMK member met him. The DMK member introduced himself saying 'My leader is the one who sent me and told me to meet with you'. [The DMK member said:]
"You are not going to get any big catch in the Thirukkurungudi case. Why are you digging it up? If you do this, the Sankarraman case will get watered down. We feel that you should not make the mistake of diluting [that case]. [Translator's note: literally, this phrase reads: "you should not take solid curds in a tank of water."]
Following this [incident], Premkumar himself is in deep thought."
"Well!"
"I heard one other thing. Premkumar is a bit upset that the DMK side, which is so keen on police tightening their clutches around the Kanchi Mutt, is not giving the assistance they could provide to the police. Specifically, police has given information to the Income Tax Department regarding the activities of Mutt-related trusts. "Though they [DMK] hold the position of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance, the DMK does not show any interest in taking action." So complains Premkumar sadly to people close to him.
_____________
*[Editor wonders, why shouldn't Hindu Gods' pictures be distributed to students from anywhere? Are Hindus and Hindu Gods barred at Christian schools? If Christians in South India are learning to be intolerant of pictures of Hindu Gods, and the Dravida Kazhagam movement is encouraging it, that is indeed a whole other story!]
* * *
[Editorial: The DMK has played at having-their-cake-and-eating-it-too from the very beginning of this case.
Early on, they orchestrated demonstrations in support of the police and Party Leader, M.Karunanidhi extolled arch-rival Jayalalitha with uncharacteristic enthusiasm for arresting the Sankaracharya. A few weeks into the saga, perhaps sensing the public mood turning, or perhaps fearing his rival would embroil his heir-apparent MK Stalin via this case, MK did a U-turn, much to his own party-members' confusion. He began to question the CM's motives in prosecuting this case. Nevertheless, the DMK has not taken any active part in the call to revoke the previously 'honest action' that their Leader now finds suspect.
If this piece is accurate, the DMK has in fact been encouraging the police actions against the Kanchi Mutt behind the scenes (perhaps in preparation of the Government takeover of the Mutt which the DMK appears to have espoused consistently for decades?)
In that case, their sudden reticence in the Thirukkurungudi case, as cited in this piece, is puzzling. It can't simply be a case of steering clear of diverting from the main thrust of the investigation. If that were the argument, we wouldn't need a spreadsheet to track all the cases registered against various Sankaramatam employees and well-wishers by the SIT. Leave alone the summons to Sankara Netralaya cardiologist Dr. Bhaskar, even Murali Manohar Joshi has not been spared!
One marvels at the courage of the people who gave bail bonds on behalf of the Sankaracharya. They have to brave scrutiny by police intelligence just to do that much! One wonders what other tyranny they and others are facing?
No, Premkumar has certainly never hesitated to dilute "solid curds in a tank of water", as the Tamil saying goes. It makes one wonder - just what is it the DMK does not want Premkumar to go digging up in Thirukkurungudi?
As for Premkumar's reported attempt to rope in the Income Tax Department, if we see the Revenue Department intercede into the maze of cases JJ's police have conjured, it will visibly indicate the Centre's involvement in this sordid affair.]
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'Mister Eagle' gossip column - Excerpts relevant to Sankaracharya case.
[We repeat the requisite admonishment about the quality of what passes for journalism at vikatan, these days. Nevertheless, this piece was intriguing enough to ineterest us. Especially since news vikatan credits to police sources has been uncannily on-target in the past ... (eg. their prediction that the Goonda's Act would be invoked in this case a matter of months before it actually was).]
"Jayendra [Swamigal] came to two courts on the same day, right?"
[Mister Eagle]: "Mmm. When he came to First Magistrate Court for both the Thirukkotiyur Madhavan case and the Ravi Subrmaniam threat case, there were no uniformed police to be seen at all! After waiting in the van itself from 10:15 to 11:30 am, Jayendra [Swamigal] entered the court hall after the Magistrate called him in. Although khakhi uniform were not to be had, police intelligence were all over there in 'mufti' [undercover or plainsclothes].
The intelligence officers were keeping a keen eye and noting closely Ramana and Janakiraman, who had submitted [the court-ordered] special personal bond of Rs. 25,000. Without forgetting to bless them, Jayendrar [Swamigal] set off for the second court.
There, his lawyer presented him for the Ravi Subramaniam threat case. Here, both Balaji and Sudarshan gave personal bond of Rs. 5000 and they also got blessings. When Jayendra [Swamigal] was waiting in the van, outside the court, the children from a famous school nearby crowded around the van to watch. Following the order from the van, pictures of Ganesh and Murugan were distributed to the schoolchildren by the Mutt people.
The local DK [Dravida Kazhagam] people have begun gossipping: 'This is a Christian school. Why should Hindu Gods' pictures be distributed to the kids from there?*' But that's a whole other story."
"OK. Mr. Eagle, there is a case about the mysterious death of a Thirukkurungudi temple employee. What is the status there?"
"I am going to tell you a rumor that is circulating in police circles. Recently, Premkumar went to the area [ie Thirukkurungudi] regarding this case. On the way, a DMK member met him. The DMK member introduced himself saying 'My leader is the one who sent me and told me to meet with you'. [The DMK member said:]
"You are not going to get any big catch in the Thirukkurungudi case. Why are you digging it up? If you do this, the Sankarraman case will get watered down. We feel that you should not make the mistake of diluting [that case]. [Translator's note: literally, this phrase reads: "you should not take solid curds in a tank of water."]
Following this [incident], Premkumar himself is in deep thought."
"Well!"
"I heard one other thing. Premkumar is a bit upset that the DMK side, which is so keen on police tightening their clutches around the Kanchi Mutt, is not giving the assistance they could provide to the police. Specifically, police has given information to the Income Tax Department regarding the activities of Mutt-related trusts. "Though they [DMK] hold the position of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance, the DMK does not show any interest in taking action." So complains Premkumar sadly to people close to him.
_____________
*[Editor wonders, why shouldn't Hindu Gods' pictures be distributed to students from anywhere? Are Hindus and Hindu Gods barred at Christian schools? If Christians in South India are learning to be intolerant of pictures of Hindu Gods, and the Dravida Kazhagam movement is encouraging it, that is indeed a whole other story!]
* * *
[Editorial: The DMK has played at having-their-cake-and-eating-it-too from the very beginning of this case.
Early on, they orchestrated demonstrations in support of the police and Party Leader, M.Karunanidhi extolled arch-rival Jayalalitha with uncharacteristic enthusiasm for arresting the Sankaracharya. A few weeks into the saga, perhaps sensing the public mood turning, or perhaps fearing his rival would embroil his heir-apparent MK Stalin via this case, MK did a U-turn, much to his own party-members' confusion. He began to question the CM's motives in prosecuting this case. Nevertheless, the DMK has not taken any active part in the call to revoke the previously 'honest action' that their Leader now finds suspect.
If this piece is accurate, the DMK has in fact been encouraging the police actions against the Kanchi Mutt behind the scenes (perhaps in preparation of the Government takeover of the Mutt which the DMK appears to have espoused consistently for decades?)
In that case, their sudden reticence in the Thirukkurungudi case, as cited in this piece, is puzzling. It can't simply be a case of steering clear of diverting from the main thrust of the investigation. If that were the argument, we wouldn't need a spreadsheet to track all the cases registered against various Sankaramatam employees and well-wishers by the SIT. Leave alone the summons to Sankara Netralaya cardiologist Dr. Bhaskar, even Murali Manohar Joshi has not been spared!
One marvels at the courage of the people who gave bail bonds on behalf of the Sankaracharya. They have to brave scrutiny by police intelligence just to do that much! One wonders what other tyranny they and others are facing?
No, Premkumar has certainly never hesitated to dilute "solid curds in a tank of water", as the Tamil saying goes. It makes one wonder - just what is it the DMK does not want Premkumar to go digging up in Thirukkurungudi?
As for Premkumar's reported attempt to rope in the Income Tax Department, if we see the Revenue Department intercede into the maze of cases JJ's police have conjured, it will visibly indicate the Centre's involvement in this sordid affair.]
