Hon'ble Mr. Kamaraj is angry—terribly too! For how could he —the greatest of all benefactors—countenance ingratitude! He could tolerate anything but not this one—and so, he became vehement.

Addressing a public meeting at Tiruvellore, the Chief Minister condemned in very strong terms, the Harijans.

"How ungrateful these Harijans are," exclaims the Chief, "after getting such an amount of help and benefit from the Congress Government, some of them are supporting opposition parties like the D.M.K."
It is a fact, and we are glad that the Chief has come to know of this, that the bulk of the Harijan community is behind the D.M.K.

It is also true that help and benefits are conferred on the Harijans, by the Government.

But, it is not true that the Congress Government is conferring this benefit out of its abundance of heart. It has to. Any Government is bound to confer this benefit—if not out of a sense of justice, at any rate, out of a fear for the repercussions that would follow, if this community is still kept in thraldom and penury.

And, those who are responsible for acquainting the chief with proper political diction would do well to remind him, that the term Congress Government is only a luxury in terms, not a logical political term.

Congress and Government are not synonymous terms. The Congress happens to be at present running the Government—nothing more than that. And the Government is run, not out of Congress funds, but with the aid of the sixty three crores of rupees got out of the sweat of the people in this State.

And the Harijans are grateful certainly, to the Government.

They are law-abiding, peace-loving; they contribute their mite towards the running the Government and in that way they are proving their loyalty and gratitude.

If they defy the laws, refuse to pay taxes, disobey authorities, create panic, indulge in violence, then, could the question be asked, 'when so much is done for your sake, why are you ungrateful?'

But, because, the bulk of the Hrijans, refuse to be roped in by the Congress, they could not be charged with the crime of ingratitude.

They do not think that their future would be safe in the hands of the conservative oligarchy which is the Congress.

Hence they are bound to lend their support to progressive parties.

To tell them that the Congress Government has done a lot to better their condition, and on that account to demand their support, is neither politics, nor ethics.

They do now realise that the Government funds are being managed by the Congress party, and they are politically educated enough to know the difference between government fund and the Congress fund.

If Mr. Kamaraj has spent some amount from out of the Congress funds for the welfare of the Harijans, then perhaps there would be some logic in reprimanding the Harijans. But to spend the money now placed at the hands of the Congress as it happens to run the Government, and on that score, to ask the Harijans to support the Congress is to, talk nonsense.

But, pray forgive us, we are assuming too much. Pardon us, for assuming that the Hon'ble Kamaraj, understands such abstract, subtle, political theories and terms.

His is a robust common-sense—he knows that when a Minister talks—sense or nonsense—those who are fated to hear, should and so would be patient, polite and even nod—not as a mark of assent, but as a matter of common decency.

If the chief allows himself to be deluded, we can't help it. But, let us register our strong note of protest against the uncalled for remark of the chief.

The head of a Government has no right to demand support to a particular party, basing his demand on the plea that the Government has done a lot for them.

It is to the Government that the Harijans ought to be loyal — and they are. And to canvass support for the Congress, after spending money taken out of the coffers—not of the Congress - but of the State, is hightly objectionable, and none other than Mr. Kamaraj could have thrown political ethics to the winds, for he is not burdened with a knowledge of political theories and terms. 'Ignorance' says the poet, "is bliss!"

(Sub-Editorial - 20-04-1958)