VVS

  Rajini and Politics. Yesterday(29.12.2020) Rajini had at last expressed his inability to jump into the political arena and stated that he had given up his intention to start a political party citing health reasons thus putting an end to the intense speculation and political calculations that followed soon after his announcement on 3 rd Dec.2020 that he would announce the date of starting a political party on 31 st Dec.2020. Looking back one can trace Rajini’s political aspirations to the year 1996 when he first proclaimed soon after the release of his much acclaimed film Basha that even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if Ms. Jayalalithaa the then Chief Minister was reelected thereby underlying the rampant corruption during her regime. At that time he was backed by Mr. G.K.Moopanar who started his own political party Tamil Manila Congress after breaking away the Indian National Congress which was in alliance with the DMK. Rajini’s proclamation had its effect. Ms. Jayalalithaa was...

  Ms Sagarika Ghose has written an article in the Sunday Times dt.29.11.2020 wherein she had criticized the recent promulgation of an ordinance that criminalises Hindu-Muslim marriages. That promulgation has since become law after the Governor has given assent. She has argued for inter-caste marriage stating that criminalising it leads to infringement of personal freedom and is ultra vires of Article 21 of the Constitution. She has cited a number of celebrity cases who married outside their caste. Her argument is true. But what had to lead to this legal enactment is the fact in the lower and middle classes the marriages lead to conversion. In most of the cases where Hindu Muslim marriages take place, it is the Hindu boy or a girl who converts to Islam and not the other way round. In the upper strata of society when such marriages take place the married individuals have the liberty to practice their own religion. Unless all people have the maturity to respect the freedom of other in...