Vinoba Bhoopathy

Hi Sir, Stop playing the victim card? No, why would I need to play a victim card? What exactly am I a victim of? asking questions? This is not victimhood, this is what accountability looks like when questions are asked and answers don’t come.” Let’s go point by point. 1) You say road maintenance is the job of the local body. Fine. Then who funds these local bodies? Who controls the system they function under? Is the Local Administration Minister from some other party or your own DMK? 2) Please spare me the lectures on federalism. Everyone in the State knows who selected the then Mayor Mrs. Indirani Ponvasanth and who influenced the functioning of the Madurai Corporation while she was in office. People in Madurai know very well who from your office assisted on your behalf. So kindly stop taking classes on federalism while DMK deceives the public about “non-interference.” And if needed, I am ready to release testimonials from Madurai Corporation councillors including those from DMK on the influence that has been shadowing the corporation. Also, calling journalists like me ‘two-faced freelance journalists’ only exposes your inability to handle criticism. Questioning power is not being two-faced, it is called journalism. And there is nothing wrong in being an independent journalist, rather than dancing to the tunes of so-called editors who align with the narratives of the ruling party. 3) “Not my constituency” argument.. So an elected MLA and sitting Minister will watch a completely uncommutable road for years just because it is not in his constituency? You live there. You use that road. You pay taxes. Will you just wait for the Corporation to wake up while the public struggles daily? And Sir, as I have visited your house several times, I know it is in another constituency and you are contesting from a different constituency. 4) On accountability.. You say it is not your role. But is it fair that a sitting Minister, whose house is located in that area, will not even speak about a damaged road? Does responsibility come with borders? Everyone knows who controls the Corporation. Please don’t distance yourself from that reality. And yes, I am ready to publish video clips showing the condition of roads in your own constituency too. Leave all that. There is an elected councillor in your ward, whom you voted. How long does it take for you, as a resident Minister, to make one call and get the road made at least commutable? Will the councillor ignore your voice? 5) Instead of deflecting, answer the issue. And let me ask you, don’t I, as an individual, have an opinion beyond my role as a journalist? Why should I always tweet praising the ruling party? Criticism is not a crime. 6) On your tenure as Finance Minister.. You say your policies helped double revenues for local bodies. Good, now you have answered your own previous questions. If funds have increased, why are basic issues like roads still not fixed? Also, after you were shunted from the Finance portfolio, what stopped you from coordinating with your colleagues, the current Finance Minister & the Municipal Administration Minister to continue that push? Do you really think they would ignore your request? Please don’t claim that a local Minister has no power to make a Corporation function, especially in Madurai. People are not that dumb. 7) Abuse of power? Requesting the Corporation in your own hometown to fix a damaged road even if it is named after your grandpa, a respected Dravidian stalwart becomes abuse? Will the Mayor or a councillor or any officer of the corporation refuse such a request? How many people use that road to reach your camp office, your Palai Illam? What do you think they feel every day? (1/2)