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me/TheHindu_Zone_official
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THE HINDU
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018
NOIDA/DELHI
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OPED 9
Limits to dialogue The power of persuasion
The Congress should not oppose Pranab Mukherjee’s RSS visit
It is unwise to suggest peopletopeople contact as the way to resolve the Cauvery dispute
but encourage more eff orts to ideologically combat opponents
term perspective and affi rmed their
faith in caring, sharing and promot removed the ban on the RSS which was im
ing a feeling of fraternity. What the posed by Sardar Patel. Despite his funda
Cauvery Family could contribute was mental diff erences with the RSS, Nehru un
best described by Ramaswamy Iyer: derstood that in a democracy one should
“The one positive element in this en include everyone, even fringe elements.
S. JANAKARAJAN tire unedifying spectacle of State As a politician, I regularly encounter peo
against State and people against peo Americai V. Narayanan ple who are severely critical of the Congress
ple has been the Cauvery Family — a and/or are avid BJP supporters — both online
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Ka loose and informal group of Cauvery and offl ine. Talking to them and trying to un
mal Haasan’s joint press interaction basin farmers from both Karnataka t was 1985 in Punjab, a politically charged derstand their side of the story often means
on June 4 with Karnataka Chief Mi and Tamil Nadu — which is now State where nothing seemed to be going that they are at least willing to listen to my
nister H.D. Kumaraswamy has trig known internationally. Unfortunate right. The last one year in particular had point of view. When a State leader, Thol. Thi
gered a huge controversy. What did ly, while it has brought about remar been terrible with the Army charging into rumavalavan, did not invite the Congress to
Mr. Haasan say that was so provoca kable mutual understanding and the Golden Temple, Indira Gandhi being as condemn an incident of violence against Da
tive? He said that the court should be goodwill between the farmers of the sassinated and the antiSikh riots echoing lits in Dharmapuri a few years ago because
the last resort for dispute resolution two States, it has not so far been able through time. The mood was clearly against they gathered under the umbrella of “Tamil
and that peopletopeople contact — in spite of several meetings — to ar the Congress. Despite this, the new Prime Desiyam” (Tamil nationalism), I remember
should be promoted to fi nd the way rive at an agreed settlement, includ Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, signed with Harcha personally reaching out to him. He invited us
forward. Various political leaders ing a distresssharing formula, which ran Singh Longowal the Punjab Accord that and gave us an opportunity to address the
have asked: “What is Mr. Haasan’s lo Cauvery dispute in the past.” Water being released from the Cauvery for 'Aadi can be presented to the Tribunal and would largely bring peace and economic sta gathering.
cus standi? Won’t it weaken Tamil Perukku', the monsoon festival in the month of Aadi, at the Mettur reservoir in the Supreme Court. Even the under bility in Punjab. Today, the Congress is in
Nadu’s case, particularly in a situa Tamil Nadu on August 3, 1991. THE HINDU ARCHIVES * standing and goodwill achieved by it power in Punjab. Going back to the roots
tion where there is a stiff resistance is under threat in the present situa The Congress has always been the fl ag bear
towards the formation of the Cauv by Kannada chauvinistic groups and logue was organised after the decla tion of confl ict and hostility between Engage diff erent viewpoints er of inclusivity, more so during the freedom
ery Water Management Authority has been banned by the Karnataka ration of the interim award in 1991, the two States, at both offi cial and It is this ethos of engaging with everyone, movement. We had amongst us tall leaders
(CWMA) from the Karnataka Chief Film Chamber of Commerce, which which was followed by unprecedent nonoffi cial levels.” (“Bridge over the even with those whom we vehemently dis like Rajaji and Rajendra Prasad who believed
Minister?” has been supported unoffi cially by ed violence in Karnataka. The total river Cauvery”, October 16, 2012, The agree with, that has ensured the in conservative values even
Mr. Kumaraswamy. Therefore, the number of Tamilians killed in the Hindu.) survival of the Congress and In when the Congress was moving
Since the judgment question is, will Tamil Nadu farmers 1991 violence was 18 and an estimat dia through testing times. The towards socialism under Nehru
Ever since the Supreme Court deli get water as per the schedule pre ed 2 lakh Tamilians left Karnataka in The legal recourse Congress has always nurtured and Netaji. However, we failed
vered its fi nal judgment on February scribed in the fi nal award upheld by a month. Against this background, The Cauvery Family last met in 2012. religious, economic and social to communicate this eff ectively
16, the situation in both States has the apex court? this dialogue opened up a new chap It did not meet after that due to lack inclusivity within the organisa to the masses and are trying to
been broiling. Although the fi nal It needs to be acknowledged that ter in dispute resolution and was ap of recognition and patronage from tion. The party’s culture en convey this message again.
judgment brought some initial cele the Cauvery dispute is the longest preciated as a positive approach by political parties and other offi cial in courages diff erent viewpoints. The RSS and BJP in recent
bration in Karnataka, it was accom and most bitter interState water dis people in both States. stitutions. Curiously, after the 2016 On several occasions, Congress years have capitalised on senti
panied by apprehension that consti pute that has been fought postInde The second civil society dialogue, violence and after the declaration of president Rahul Gandhi has reit ments that the Congress’s secu
tuting the CWMA would be against pendence. It has been almost three which I initiated in 2003, followed the Supreme Court’s fi nal verdict this erated that we should engage and learn from larism is anti Hindu. A committee within
Karnataka’s interest. At the moment, decades since the Cauvery Water Dis the eruption of violence in 2002. As year, several people from Karnataka every part of society. It thus comes as a mild our party under the chairmanship of A.K.
the CWMA is not fully constituted be putes Tribunal was constituted. We an initial measure, two farmers’ dia and a few in Tamil Nadu approached shock to hear liberals in general and Con Antony has acknowledged that this misper
cause three fulltime members have have gone through a full legal cycle; logue workshops — one in Tamil Na me for reviving the Cauvery Family. I gresspersons (including some of those who ception exists and continues to be spread.
not been appointed and there are no yet, uncertainty and tension remain du (held on April 4 and 5) and the took a strong negative position be want India to engage with Pakistan) in partic The Congress needs to go back to its roots
nominations from Kerala and Karna in both States. So, it this an appro other in Karnataka (June 2 and 3) — cause the legal recourse has taken a ular opposing former President Pranab Muk and follow Mahatma Gandhi. He started all
taka. The Water Resources Secretary, priate time to initiate peopletopeo were organised. Many prominent pe full cycle (and it took nearly 40 herjee’s visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak his public meetings with readings of passag
who is the temporary Chair of the ple contact, as suggested by Mr. ople and scholars, besides over 100 years) and the stage is set to see the Sangh (RSS) headquarters. es from Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran. We
Authority, has indicated that it might Haasan? farmers and farmers’ leaders from value of the legal route in resolving The RSS is an organisation one may like or need to fi ght the misinformation campaign
take some time before the CWMA be both States, participated in the initial the dispute. The nation is waiting to hate, but cannot ignore in India. Like many of the RSS, clearly showing in words and
comes a comprehensive body. But Past initiatives two meetings. After the initial meet see the dispute coming to an end, citizens of India, as a Congressman, I too be deeds that secular does not mean antireli
the Authority should have been fully If we recall, there have been at least a ings, a committee was formed with 15 though not to everyone’s pleasure. lieve that the RSS is a pseudoHindu organi gion but religious harmony.
formal and functional, according to couple of civil society dialogue initia members from each State. This com Mr. Haasan’s press statement with sation which neither represents the aspira We should not only restrain ourselves
court’s fi nal verdict, before the start tives in the past (what is regarded as mittee later came to be known as the Mr. Kumaraswamy, advocating peo tions of real Hindus nor refl ects India’s from opposing Mr. Mukherjee's visit to Nag
of the irrigation year, which is June 1. Track II diplomacy). The fi rst such Cauvery Family. It had advisers such pletopeople contact, needs to be heterogeneous culture. In spite of our signif pur, but also encourage more such attempts
If one goes resolutely by the law, the dialogue took place in 1992. It was in as Ramaswamy R. Iyer, B.S. Bhavani seen in this context. He could have icant disagreement and fi ght with RSS ideol to ideologically combat our opponents head
longpending Cauvery dispute itiated by S. Guhan, a distinguished Shankar, and Gangappa. The Cauv waited for at least a year to see how ogy, we need to understand that we cannot on in their den.
should come to a close after the fi nal civil servant and former Secretary, ery Family met 18 times in Tamil Na eff ectively the CWMA functions be ignore an organisation where millions of pe The RSS often talks about gharwapsi (re
verdict and after the CWMA becomes Finance and Planning, Tamil Nadu du and Karnataka, alternatively, bet fore making such a statement. Under ople work selfl essly for what they believe is conversion). A confi dent and resurgent Con
fully and legally functional. But government. The meeting was held ween 2003 and 2012 and fi nally the present conditions, seeking peo right. One of the biggest points of contention gress should engage with the brainwashed,
doubts still linger in people’s minds. in Bengaluru and was attended by S. evolved fi ve watersharing formulae. pletopeople contact for a social dia is the RSS’s belief that India should be a Hin misguided Hindutva youth and convert
The situation in Karnataka before Ranganathan, S. Manavalan and N. There continued to be diff erences of logue is unwise, untimely and un du Rashtra. With many moderate voices re them back to real Hindus who will continue
and after the verdict has changed ve Ram. From the Karnataka side, the opinion, especially on sharing water called for. fusing to engage with the RSS, we are only to be accepting of diverse backgrounds and
ry little, which can be gauged from meeting was attended by H.N. Nanje during defi cit years. The most signif strengthening these values that are detri ideas for years to come.
the fact that actor and Rajini Makkal Gowda, M.D. Nanjundaswami and icant feature of this dialogue initia S. Janakarajan is President, South Asia mental to a united India.
Mandram founder Rajinikanth’s mo B.K. Chandrashekhar. It is important tive was that the members of the Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Ironically, it was Jawaharlal Nehru — now Americai V. Narayanan is a Tamil Nadu Congress
vie Kaala is being resisted severely to remember that this unoffi cial dia Cauvery Family developed a long Resources Studies being vilifi ed by the BJP and its trolls — who Committee spokesperson. Twitter handle: @americai
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