Wag the Dog 2.0

DMK president M Karunanidhi ended his nine-year-old association with the UPA government by pulling out of the alliance. Karunanidhi accused the ruling government of not only watering down the US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but also ‘turning its back’ on the amendments suggested by the DMK.
However, sources say that the Lanka issue is just an excuse. They add that the DMK has made these demands just to part ways with the Congress.

Addressing the media on Tuesday morning, the DMK chief said, “It is impossible for the DMK to support the Central Government under these circumstances. Even if the LTTE is vanquished, our support to the fight of Tamil freedom and human rightsis not over.”
Five ministers, including Karnunanidhi’s son MK Alagiri were to tender their resignations either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday.
The pullout spells trouble for the ruling UPA as the DMK is the second biggest ally with 18 MPs.
The DMK has also ruled out any question of giving outside support, but said it might consider changing its stand based on the government's decision.
“If the parliament passes a resolution before the vote in UNHRC, we might change our stand,” Karunanidhi said.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said the UPA has taken note of the DMK decision to leave the alliance, but added that the Congress-led government is still stable and enjoyed a majority in the Lok Sabha. “Let me assure everyone that the government is absolutely stable and enjoys a majority in the Lok Sabha,” he said minutes after Karunanidhi announced that he would withdraw his party’s support.
“The DMK leader has said he will review his decision if we pass a resolution in the house. We have taken note of that also,” Chidambaram said. “We are considering the two core demands of the DMK. We are consulting other parties for a resolution in Parliament,” he added.
Sources in the DMK have added that the government had finalised a draft resolution on Lanka that will be tabled in parliament.
“Kamal Nath showed it to us, but we asked him to take it up with the DMK chief. Until he approves, we have nothing to say,” said a DMK MP.
Once approved, the draft will be circulated to political parties. “Even if we approve this draft, it may not be okayed by everybody,” he added.
Most political leaders rejected the idea of discussing the Lanka issue in parliament. The BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Left parties, in particular, were not in favour of India adopting the US resolution.
“The DMK’s suggestion is fraught with dangers to India. If we adopt such a policy for Lanka, how long will it take for the Pakistan National Assembly to pass a resolution about Kashmir?” said a senior BJP leader.
CPI leader D Raja added the issue had been discussed in parliament four times previously. “What is the point of discussing one more time?” he asked.

Sources, however, say that the Lanka issue is just a reason for the DMK to withdraw support. “The Congress has become a liability in Tamil Nadu. The DMK chief wants to snap ties before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Tamil issue in Sri Lanka has hit the student population in the state and the DMK wants to strike a chord with them,” said a source.