Where is the TNA-led Main Opposition ?
t has been a long time since we last heard from the Opposition, I mean the TNA-led main Opposition. Even when there are occasional isolated voices, such as by the National List MP M.A. Sumanthiran, they too appear to be too little, too late. Last time the Opposition Leader Rasavarodhayam Sampanthan spoke out was several months back, about the release of Tamil inmates incarcerated under terrorism related charges, that too was after a hunger strike launched by the prisoners. Recently, MP Sumanthiran raised concerns over the tender procedure adopted for the construction of 65,000 houses for the war-affected families in the North-East. His remarks (though belated) follow similar concerns raised by the local construction industry, civil society and even the Northern Chief Minister C. Wigneswaran.
They all noted the lopsided tender procedures, which have favoured the Indian multinational Arcelor Mittal at the expense of local construction companies, concerns over inflated prices of the housing units and the absence of secondary benefits to the local communities. MP Sumanthiran has echoed those concerns.
2016-04-12
t has been a long time since we last heard from the Opposition, I mean the TNA-led main Opposition. Even when there are occasional isolated voices, such as by the National List MP M.A. Sumanthiran, they too appear to be too little, too late. Last time the Opposition Leader Rasavarodhayam Sampanthan spoke out was several months back, about the release of Tamil inmates incarcerated under terrorism related charges, that too was after a hunger strike launched by the prisoners. Recently, MP Sumanthiran raised concerns over the tender procedure adopted for the construction of 65,000 houses for the war-affected families in the North-East. His remarks (though belated) follow similar concerns raised by the local construction industry, civil society and even the Northern Chief Minister C. Wigneswaran.They all noted the lopsided tender procedures, which have favoured the Indian multinational Arcelor Mittal at the expense of local construction companies, concerns over inflated prices of the housing units and the absence of secondary benefits to the local communities. MP Sumanthiran has echoed those concerns.
But, it is rather unusual for the TNA to take so long to raise a matter which has acute implications for its constituency in the North.
When Sampanthan was nominated the Opposition Leader, it was argued that given the nature of TNA’s primary constituency, ethnic politics would take precedence over national politics. Now, it seems, perhaps, in order to assuage those concerns, the TNA has decided not to talk at all.
It has been keeping mum on the national issues, with which it still finds hard to relate and has toned down its previous rhetoric on Tamil interests to a near inaudible level.
There is an explanation for this conduct. In the first place, their numbers (16 MPs from TNA plus 4 from JVP) do not add much clout to the main Opposition. After all, Sampanthan and Anura Kumara Dissanayake were nominated to the posts of Opposition Leader and the Chief Opposition Whip respectively with the tacit backing of the government. Perhaps, they do not want to upset the apple cart too soon.
When Sampanthan was nominated the Opposition Leader, it was argued that given the nature of TNA’s primary constituency, ethnic politics would take precedence over national politics. Now, it seems, perhaps, in order to assuage those concerns, the TNA has decided not to talk at all.It has been keeping mum on the national issues, with which it still finds hard to relate and has toned down its previous rhetoric on Tamil interests to a near inaudible level.
There is an explanation for this conduct. In the first place, their numbers (16 MPs from TNA plus 4 from JVP) do not add much clout to the main Opposition. After all, Sampanthan and Anura Kumara Dissanayake were nominated to the posts of Opposition Leader and the Chief Opposition Whip respectively with the tacit backing of the government. Perhaps, they do not want to upset the apple cart too soon.
