"The person whom you have been strongly criticizing has won the elections and become the Chief Minister. He is going to be in power for the next five years. He has been maintaining a good relationship with a party ruling at the centre. So, he is likely to be well entrenched in power. What are you going to do about this?" asked Kuzhandaisamy.
"What is there for me to do? I will continue to write against his misdeeds. I may face harassment from the government agencies. They may file charges against me under various acts, flagging my writings as 'anti-national.' I may even be imprisoned. I am ready to face everything!" said Sankaramani.
"I would advise you to tone down your criticism of the government. It is very difficult to survive, after earning the wrath of a ruthless leader like Kathirvelan."
Even as Kuzhandaisamy was saying this, Senthil, another journalist, came near them. He bent down and told Sanksramani,"Mr.Sankaramani, I need to speak to you in private."
Hearing this, Kuzhandaiamy stood up to leave that place, telling Sankaramani, "We will meet again."
"You need not leave, sir" Senthil told Kuzhandaiamy. "I just have a brief message for Mr. Sankaramani. I will leave, after delivering it."
Sankaramani accompanied Senthil to a nearby spot in the room, that was secluded.
Senthil spoke to Sankaramani for a couple of minutes and left.
Sankramani returned to his table and sat against Kuzhandaisamy.
"Senthil is close to Kathirvelan. What did he tell you? Did he warn you saying, 'Our man has come to power now. So, be careful, when writing about him'?" asked Kuzhandaisamy, half in jest and half in seriousness.
"No. He conveyed a message that Kathirvelan wanted to meet me!" said Sankaramani, wondering why the Chief Minister wanted to meet him.
"Meet the Chief Minister and find out what he wants. Perhaps, he wants to warn you in person. Be careful, while talking to him. You know how malicious he can be" said Kuzhandaisamy, his voice showing his concern.
When Sankaramani met Chief Minister Kathirvelan in his office, there was no one else in the room.
"I don't know whether you will believe me, if I say that I read all your writings thoroughly" said Katirvelan.
'I am aware of it. And I read all the pieces that appear in the mouthpiece of your party, viciously attacking me, for my views!' thought Sankaramani.
"Thank you, sir" said Sankaramani, tersely.
Kathrivelan said:
"I have come to power now. Because I am in power, people around me will only tell me things that I want to hear. They won't tell me about things that will be unpalatable to me. You are a person, with a sharp eye. You keenly observe the things that are happening in the country. I know that you don't support or criticize anything blindly. You view things objectively and express your opinions without bias.
"It is true that in the past, our partymen have assailed you for your critical comments about me and my party. Sometimes, they have hit you below the belt. I am sorry about it, but that is politics! Now, when I am in power, I want to be fully informed of what is happening in the country, people's perception of my rule, their grievances, expectations etc. Journalists who support me and people surrounding me will not bring to my notice news adverse to my interest or views critical of me.
"Therefore, I want to have you, a person who has a sharp eye for facts and who has been closely following the developments in the country and people's perceptions, as my media adviser. You can keep writing in any paper of your choice, the way you have been doing all along.
"But you have to update me, on a daily basis, about news and views including information, happenings and perceptions, which others will hesitate to bring to my notice, lest I should be upset by them. I appeal to you to accept the position of being my media adviser."
Sankaramani looked at Kathirvelan, with amazement and a new sense of respect and admiration.
Condemnation of Faults
sUzhvAraich chUzhndhu koLal.
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