Subramanian Swamy’s
Dr. Subramanian Swamy was born in 1939 in Chennai. He got PhD in Economics from Harvard University at the age of 24. He taught Economics at the IIT Delhi from 1969. He was elected to the Parliament 5 times from Mumbai, U.P and Tamil Nadu between 1974-99. He served as Union Commerce and Law minister in the early 1990s. He is instrumental in fighting for the cause of preventing the destruction of Rama Sethu bridge. On many issues of national importance in India, Dr. Subramanian Swamy has been ahead of the time and always proved right, whether it is market economy, liberalization, improvement of relations with Israel and China. Even on the present Economic Scene in India Dr. Swamy had predicted in 2007 that the Sensex would go below 9000. He is noted for his consistent stance against the LTTE. He has been the President of Janata Party since 1990.
Recently there has been some hectic efforts by some Tamil Nadu parties to get the Government of India to pressure the Sri Lanka government to end the alleged "genocide" of Tamils and to enter into negotiation with the LTTE.
There are, however, a large number of Sri Lankan Tamils who say that there is no genocide of Tamils, well-known persons such as Anandsagaree of TULF, S C Chandrahasan of Ofer, Devananda and Karuna, both ministers in the Sri Lanka government. They point out that the LTTE has assassinated more Tamil leaders than the Sri Lankan army has, leaders of eminence such as Amrithalingam, Yogeswaran, Neelam Tiruchelvam, and even militants such as Sri Sabaratnam.
The important truth is that the internationally banned terrorist organisation, the LTTE, is losing in the battlefield, and it is only matter of time before what is left of it in the jungles is overrun by the Sri Lankan army. This has activated certain political groups in India who depend on the LTTE for monetary support to hold demonstrations, strikes, self-immolations etc.
Will these expressions of solidarity have any impact in Tamil Nadu on the coming General Elections to Parliament? The short answer is: No! Never in the past has either of the two main parties in the state articulated the Sri Lankan Tamil problem in the elections or support for the LTTE as a serious issue of campaign. People are moved instead by domestic issues, and LTTE does not nor ever has had the sympathy of Tamil Nadu because of the gun-culture that they brought to the state. In 1991, when I was holding the Law and Justice portfolio as a senior Cabinet Minister in the Chandrashekar government, we dismissed the Karunanidhi-led state government, explicitly because it was hobnobbing with the LTTE. In the Assembly election held four months later, the DMK could win only one seat in a House of 234 MLAs. During this period not even a bicycle was burnt much less police stations or self-immolations. There were no demonstrations either.
Recently, I was pelted with rotten eggs by pro-LTTE advocates inside the High Court because I am seen as the most vociferous in opposing that terrorist outfit. Yet, when the New Indian Express took a poll across the state, 68 per cent supported my stand while just 11 per cent, including my political opponents, approved the rowdyism.
However, there is public sentiment that Tamils of Sri Lanka must get their due share of power and position in Sri Lanka, and that India should take interest in this regard because Tamils are being discriminated against merely because they are Tamils. If therefore, the Sri Lankan government fails to devolve power to the Tamils living mostly in north and northeast of the country even after the LTTE is decimated, then there would be a reaction of electoral significance, particularly since the Indian government has assisted the Sri Lankan government in the war effort against the LTTE. Radar supply, small arms, spares, naval blockade even training of officers have been extended by India to Sri Lanka.
Hence, the Sri Lankan development will impact elections in Tamil Nadu only if the Sri Lankan government does not change its unitary constitution for a more federal one, of course with safeguards. This is not however imminent since the war with the LTTE in still on. Problems will only arise after the LTTE is decisively castrated. That event is a year away, and hence well beyond the General Elections in May this year. For now therefore there is no impact of the Sri Lankan developments on Tamil Nadu elections.
(The writer is a former Union Law Minister)
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