639. A Remark During the Press Meet

Chief Minister Adhavan met the media persons, in connection with his government having completed two years in office.

After detailing his government's achievements during the two year period, he answered the questions posed to him by the media persons.

A question was asked about the criticism of his government by the opposition parties. 

'"The role of the opposition parties is to oppose the government. They have just been playing their roles. I am not concerned about them" said Adhavan.

"You talk about your achievements. But the opposition parties talk about the shortcomings in your performance. Don't you think that this will tarnish the reputation of your government, you have been trying to build?"

"I should definitely be concerned about issues affecting the reputation of my government. But I don't believe that our reputation would be affected by the criticism levelled against us by the opposition parties. It may, however, be affected by other factors" said Adhavan, smiling.

"Can you elaborate what you imply by 'other factors?'"

"I said it in general. Let us conclude this meet at this stage."

Adhavan got up and left the press meet, after waving his hands to the media persons, by way of saying goodbye to them. 

"What have you done, sir? You have cast a stone in still waters and created ripples. Now everyone is talking about your use of the phrase 'other factors.' The media has been speculating about the 'factors' you referred to," Aravanan, President of Adhavan's party, told Adhavan.

"Let them speculate. Let there be debates on what I meant. Then only the erring ministers in my cabinet will realize the damage they have been causing to the reputation of our government" said Adhavan, somewhat angrily.

"You mean..."

"You know who are the people I have been referring to. A senior minister has been doing things that are against public interest. His actions have brought a bad name to our party and the government. Our own partymen are angry with him. But, since he is a senior leader in our party, I cannot sack him from the ministry. I have spoken to him about his wrongdoings many times and emphasized the need to mend his ways. But he has not changed his ways. That is why I threw a hint in the press meet by mentioning about other factors that could create a bad name to our government. I hope he would have got the message and would mend his ways. If he doesn't, I have no option but to drop him from the cabinet. As I indicated in the press meet, our government  does not face any threat from the opposition parties. The real threat we face is only from people like this person. You may also talk to him and make him understand what is expected of him. I also expect that my remark would serve as a warning to other erring ministers, if any, whose wrongdoings might not have come to my notice" said Adhavan.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 64
Being A Minister

Verse 639 (in Tamil):
pazhudhu eNNum mandhiriyin pakkadhadhuL thevvOr
ezhupadhu kOdi uRum.

Meaning:

It is better to face 700 million foes

than have an erring minister.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'paththirikaiyALar sandhippu' by the same author.) 

Verse 640 (Soon)
Verse 638