War Of letters:
Hardly ever a letter from Center to a state has created such a ruckus in state’s politics as Chidambaram’s letter has done. Content of the letter got leaked to press even before it reached the state govt after inordinate delay. The letter was claimed to be highly confidential in some quarters but it was sent by speed post in ordinary way mingled with other mails while it’s customary to send such letters by courier. Perhaps, Center did not attach that importance to this letter as the state did. It’s an open secret Chidambaram had to issue such a letter more out of political compulsion rather than anything else. In the face of TMC supremo’s threat to quit UPA what else the Center can do other than taking the state govt to task to save its govt as TMC is an important ally to reckon with so far as its stability is concerned? What has shown Chidambaram, who has a reputation as a perfect gentleman politician, in poor light is use of word like ‘Harmad’.It definitely smacks of his bad taste. However, some even surmised the letter was not drafted by Chidambaram himself but as it contained his signature he can’t disown the onus of what was objectionable in his letter .
Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, however, had taken care that his rejoinder to Chidambaram was not leaked before it reached him and made it public only after home department acknowledged the receipt of the letter. Content of CM’s letter was precise and more or less matter-of-factly.He, however, made no bones about his reservation against the leakage of the letter before it reached him and use of word like Harmads. However, Chidambaram in his rejoinder scuttled the ‘Harmads’ issue but stuck to his gun against CM over his allegation about presence of armed camps of CPM in Jungalmahal.He also invited CM to Delhi for discussion on this issue. However, in another letter Chidambaram defended the use of ‘Harmad’ claiming it a common parlance in the political lexicon of the state.CM vehemently opposed it again and accused him of being mum over Trinomool-Maoist pact when Center claims Maoists are the greatest internal menace to the nation.Incidentally,CM did neither deny nor confirm the presence of armed camps of CPM at Jungalmahal.
Chidambaram has not yet refuted the allegation made against Trinomool about their rapport with the Maoists, Nor has CM clarified if armed camps of CPM are there at Jungalmahal.Now it’s all quiet on Chidambaram’s front Apparently, both sides have called it a day. It’s really difficult to categorically deny the charges they’ve leveled against each other.
Home Minister Chidambaran had no option but embark on appeasing the coalition partner Trinamool Congress since Congress is dependent on its biggest partner for survival at the Centre. TMC has been demanding withdrawal of the Central paramilitary forces operating jointly with the state armed forces and gaining successes against the Maoists in the Junglemahal. Maoists putting relentless pressure on the Trinamool Chief - either ensure withdrawal of Joint operation against them or quit the Union cabinet forthwith. Trinamool since the days of Nandigram and Singur, Maoists and TMC have been working unitedly against the CPM led Govt. TMC Supremo is hell bent on coming to power by associating with anybody and adopting any means.
ReplyDeleteHM Chidambaran did a great disservice by vitiating the norms established in our country through sustained practice as ordained by the Constitution. The murky affairs of leaking a confidential letter sent by the country's Home Minister to a Chief Minister of a state, is by all standards and arguments is deliberate. The letter itself is a political leaflet meant for the boosting of morale of TMC who cannot afford waiting for May. Political compulsion played the upper hand. TM C's black mail works well. Just for staying in power the Congress Govt at the centre had thrown in the winds all tenets of Constitutional propriety. That's a sad commentary on the functioning of democracy in India.