What should take priority, National Interests or Communal Interests ?

"That is not very encouraging to the National Politics of India. It is collectively united India that has developed and progressed into being a developed Nation in Asia. If the Tamil Nadu initiates a break up of Indian Unity, India as well as Tamil Nadu, will go back to being a petty under developed banana States !"

by Charles.S.Perera

(November 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There is no problem of racism with the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. If communal sentiments are whipped up it is for political interest by politicians. The Notable Politicians with a penchant for stirring communal sentiments among the Tamils in Sri Lanka are Mano Ganeshan , Chandrasekaran, and the TNA Parliamentarians, with their own terrorist agenda. But to what an extent, and where exactly have their communal pot shots worked is difficult to say. The first two have pro terrorist leaning, therefore they seek allegiance with the Tamils of the Tamil Nadu.

We could count upon Ananda Sangaree and Douglas Devananda to have national interests, beyond their communal appurtenance, and therefore, as patriots of Sri Lanka. A larger sector of the Tamil population prefer to keep ,their sentiments to themselves, rather than make a public show of it. The Tamils of professional sector in Tamil Nadu, have by their utterances and participation showed that they give priority to Communal Interest rather than National Interest. Those who give priority to Communal interest over National interest, are not patriots of their multi-ethnic motherland.

That is not very encouraging to the National Politics of India. It is collectively united India that has developed and progressed into being a developed Nation in Asia. If the Tamil Nadu initiates a break up of Indian Unity, India as well as Tamil Nadu, will go back to being a petty under developed banana States !

South India, cannot depend wholly on the Tamil diaspora to fall into the category of a developed nation. India's political, economic and social leadership depends in its strength acquired through Unity of all its 28 States. Tamil diaspora despite the knowledge that the difficulties of "colour", will keep them strangers for ever in their adopted countries, show Communal Interest, rather than National interest towards their original motherlands.

India despite being a country with a fast developing economy, is still not free of poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition. Many of the States are rich in minerals , agriculture etc. Tamil Nadu is one of these states. It is not only Tamil Nadu that could break away to form an Independent State. If all the other 27 states give priority to their communal interests like Tamil Nadu and break away, neither India, nor the break away States will benefit from such an eventuality. India's economic development and its place as a leader Nation in Asia comes from the fact of its Unity.

But if the Communal Interest of Tamil Nadu were to over Shadow the National Interests, India is bound to collapse like a pack of cards , as other States may also take the plunge along with Tamil Nadu, to form their own Independent States. The Communal sentiments is dangerous as it could have disastrous results in a multi ethnic society. That is why it is better the States that form a Union, like in India should stay together without giving into Communal Interests.

There are many Countries in Asia that is made up of several communities, such as Malasia, and Singapore, but they have not still been attacked by the virus of "ethnic problem". Therefore, they have made significant social and economic achievements and stand as examples among developing nations.

Where ever the Communal Interest has risen above National interest, there is hindrance to development, and progress is retarded by communal dissention. In the developed west, communal questions have taken the back seats, in preference to National interests.

France does not interfere into Canada to show its solidarity with the French Canadians. Nor is Italy interfering to defend Corse for their distant connection to Corsicans.
So why should Tamil Nadu interfere into Sri Lanka on the question of Tamils which is a problem of Sri Lanka.

Tamil Nadu has to put the National interest first and stop its interference into the Affairs of Sri Lanka without causing embarrassment to India. For any citizen of a country, it is important to be concerned about the National interest. That is to be patriotic. Karunanidhi, Vaiko, Nedumaran, and others of Tamil Nadu in giving priority to communal interest is not being patriotic as Indian Nationals.

The Politicians of Tamil Nadu have to leave aside their interest in the Tamils of Sri Lanka, and stand by the Central Government of India without making it difficult for India, as a leader Nation of Asia. Tamil Nadu should allow India as a Democratic leader State of Asia, to contact Sri Lanka through its diplomatic channels, to settle the terrorist problem in an appropriate manner as it should be ,between two sovereign states.

Politicians like Vaiko, Karunanidhi, and Nedumaran, are not matured politicians. They do not understand the interplay of international politics, and democratic means to be applied in cases of problems between two sovereign states.

They should give up their narrow minded "celluloid star" mentality an mature into real patriotic politicians of India. They should look after the interest of the people of Tamil Nadu who elected them into power rather than interfere into the affairs of Sri Lanka a neighbouring sovereign state. - Sri Lanka Guardian