VSK TN
K Anbazhagan, aged 97, DMK general secretary for 43 years, passed away on March 7, after struggling with ill health for over a year. The party is yet to find a successor with powerful multiple claimants vying for the top post. Then there is the Madurai based M.K. Alagiri, elder brother of DMK chief M.K. Stalin; he was expelled from the party and refuses to fade out. Last week he openly overtook DMK in the matter of making a donation of Rs. ten lakhs to the CM’s Corona Relief Fund the day after DMK simply announced a donation of Rs. one crore. The moral of the story is, DMK under Stalin is just terrified to think of the poll year (2021) just eight months away. That explains why Stalin had to rope in the Bihar based election strategist Prashant Kishore in February to face the ensuing Assembly polls.
Yesterday (April 16) two episodes occurred that promise to provide tonic to the emaciated DMK.
1. Rupees One crore per family demand by DMK
DMK chief Stalin, who chaired An ‘all-party meeting’ via video call on April 16, has demanded Rs 1 crore each to the family of those who died due to Coronavirus and Rs 5,000 per family to all ration card holders (against the Rs. 1,000 state government solatium). As per a resolution passed at the meet, special salary should be provided to government staff involved in corona fighting and relief measures. (News Today; 16-4-2020)
Tamil TV channels went to town hailing the demand.
2. HC nod to DMK plea
Madras High Court said on April 16 that permission is not needed for volunteers and NGOs to carry out coronavirus prevention and relief works. However, the court added that the lockdown rules should be followed during these works. The verdict was delivered on a petition filed by the DMK against the restriction on distribution of corona relief materials by NGOs and other volunteers. (The state government has already clarified that NGOs and volunteers can continue to distribute relief materials but they should adhere to the rules and social distancing). (News Today; 16-4-2020).
DMK is sure to pose as a champion protecting the lifeline of non – governmental relief. Fact remains that the real heroes on ground zero are the patriotic citizens involved in systematic Seva. They are led by RSS, Seva Bharati and Hindu Munnani. They offer food and relief among the curfew hit population across the state.
A question remains: Is the DMK cadre oriented enough to encash all this?