The idea of mixing religion with politics is terrifying — I'm not the only person in the country who trembles like a leaf in a monsoon storm at the mention of kar sevaks. And now, thanks to this ridiculous uproar, an Aryan-Dravidian divide has suddenly reared its ugly head, a bus has been burnt, two people were charred to death (so far), and God knows (actually, I 'm prepared to bet he doesn't) what else will follow

The average Hindu wasn't terribly upset with either the proposal to cut a shipping channel through Adam's Bridge, the 1.7 million-year-old "natural formation" of coral reefs and sand banks, in the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, or with the central government's affidavit calling into question the historicity of Lord Ram.

Adding a new twist to the media and political uproar over the Supreme Court's obsevations vis-a-vis Tamilnadu bandh, PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss today went several steps ahead of others and averred that it was not in the interest of democracy if court made laws became permanent and if it kept increasing.

Stating that under Article 356, it was in the realm of the powers of the president and the parliament, Dravidar Kazhagam president Veeramani said the Supreme Court could not compel, recommend or suggest to the president to impose president`s rule.

Legal experts are of the opinion that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to recommend the dismissal of a democratically elected state government.