Calm down

especially charged by the Sri Lankan army’s spectacular gains over the LTTE. These gains have come at a cost: the fate of over 150,000 Tamil refugees remains uncertain; and the United Nations warns of a humanitarian crisis.

Developments in the island nation have often ignited street politics in Tamil Nadu,and if sobriety is not regained by the state’s politicians,matters can get messy and complicated — for local governance and for India’s foreign policy consensus on the need for a political solution in Sri Lanka. Apart from all-party vigils and inflamed rhetoric,shops have been closed,students and lawyers have gone on strike,and a student burnt himself to death in protest. Political parties have even put public pressure on the Centre to halt the Sri Lankan military advance. The incidents of arson in the Madras High Court are instructive. There is no denying the need for the lawyers to be dealt with firmly. But incidents such as these occur in an emotive climate created by Tamil Nadu’s political parties.

If the chaos in the high court has taught Tamil politicians to tread with caution,they don’t show it. The arson on the Madras High Court premises has swiftly descended into a blame game. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa has demanded the dismissal of the state government,while CM Karunanidhi,recovering in hospital,has threatened to go on a hunger strike unless the issue is resolved. Threats and counter-threats are being hurled in the assembly,and more recently in the Rajya Sabha. As elections approach,the theatrics will increase,as will the rhetoric. This neither helps governance nor the Tamil refugees,who need protection,not political showmanship. The temperature in the state must be returned to normal.