Saddam Hussein - Vishwaksena 2

Rest In Peace

Vijayakanth, DMDK Leader (1952 - 2023)

Preface:

This story is the sequel to my 5th story Vishwaksena. Unlike the first part, the character named Kalikartha will be the protagonist in this. I dedicate this story to John Perkins whose book, 'The confession of an economic hitman', has been the backbone for the first part.

-Vishal

Disclaimer:

Any character, authority or organisation described as corrupt and receiving bribes are purely fictional and not real.

Chapter 1:

Around 5:00 AM, at Portland harbor, a container with cars destined for Norway awaits loading onto a cargo ship. Suddenly, a band of armed men encircle the harbor, halting the container's movement. They threaten customs officers into emptying that container and loading the luxury vehicles they have brought there and send it to Indian ministers. Succumbing to the threat, the officers do so.

As the ship sets sail, the gunmen realise one car is missing. Searching in the harbor, one of the gunmen locate it parked outside. Upon alerting their comrades via walkie talkie, the car ignites its engine and lights. Concealed behind tinted windows, the driver is unseen as the gunman approaches. Before he can react, the car accelerates, knocking him down, and escapes the harbor. Despite the chase by the other gunmen in their vehicles, the car evades.

A few days later, in Chennai, while preparing for the parliamentary elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalikartha gives a speech in a college event which is broadcasted live on local and national news channels. Following a discourse on literature and values that fails to captivate the students, he says, "Dear students, I sense your boredom. The college management has told me not to give political speech since election campaign is fast approaching. So have lunch. Throw out the leaves. Wash your hands. Go and sleep." The auditorium erupts in laughter, echoed by viewers at home including his wife and children in some country but in a subtle manner unlike others.

A few days later, the fuel prices gets minimised by the central government. Kalikartha calls his partymen for a meeting to his office for ideating how to solve the sudden rise and falls of fuel prices. He says "The central party has reduced the fuel price before the elections just to pull votes. Shouldn't we think how the crude oil shortage never happens during elections alone?." He asks the petroleum minister Sukumar, "What you do during the price hikes?". Sukumar says "As ministers of a regional government, we cannot bypass the central government, chief. We should just let their stands get in. The maximum we can do is request them or organise a strike to reduce it but they seldom respond or won't care at all.".

Kalikartha says "Then I've an idea. Let's join with various parties from all the states and create an alliance. If the majority is big, I'll be the PM candidate and bring a solution to this fuel price issue and lots of other issues.". Then he asks Sukumar "What in your opinion is the solution for fuel price, Sukumar?" Sukumar says "We need to retrieve Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka and manufacture the fuel by extracting the crude oil.".

Kalikartha asks "Are you out of your senses?". Sukumar says "Why chief? Isn't was a shame that a central government gave our island to Sri Lanka?" Kalikartha asks "Do you know why it was given?" Sukumar says "Money. What else?". Kalikartha asks "How much?". Sukumar says "I don't know, chief. Some crores.".

Kalikartha says "Its not for getting some crores. It was for saving some crores here. At that time Sri Lanka was also facing pressures due to Chinese influences. So the Sri Lankan Prime Minister told our then Prime Minister that if the Katchatheevu island is not given to them, then China will take over it. So in order to resist ourselves from the Chinese influences, we sacrificed one of our territory to the Sri Lanka.".

Sukumar asks "Then what's the solution, chief?". Kalikartha says "No need to manufacture it ourselves as of now. As usual let's import the crude oil. Currently, the petrol price is divided into dealer charge, excise duty, dealer commission and state tax. The state tax is inevitable but we should give exemption to other three. Instead of collecting them from public, we'll pay those three charges from our exchequer to the companies providing fuel once imported. For this, economy should increase. It will happen if we concentrate more on exports and properly save the finances and donations.".

An MLA asks "How can we improve the exports, chief?". Kalikartha says "In every colleges, there are only campus interviews. Additionally, we need to provide a scheme in which students who are interested in entrepreneurship can submit their business feasibility report to a panel where the professors from the departments of MBA, economics and commerce are sitting. They can approve the report if it is appealing, tie up with a bank and venture for their startups. They can manufacture products of their interest and sell locally at first and as they grow the can sell it abroad and expand their franchise also. The tax they pay from their revenue will grow our exchequer. How's this idea?". Everyone accepts and appreciates.

Kalikartha says "Perfect. Let this idea be confidential as of now and let's not mention this in the election report. Not only the opposition parties, but the parties with whom we are keeping alliance may object this. We have a very good portfolio in legislative assembly. We should have more like that in parliament. Now let's focus on the alliance.".

Kalikartha starts proposing the alliance idea to the political parties in all the Indian states and union territories excluding the regional leading parties. All of them accepts and an alliance is formed.

The election campaign starts. One fine day, while Kalikartha is doing it in a tempo traveller with his candidate Manimaran next to him with a joined hands (like this🙏🏻) in a slum area in North Chennai, he says "Please vote for my candidate Mr. Manimaran". One person from the crowd asks "Oh should we? How much he'll give for voting?". Kalikartha says "He won't give anything before you vote. He'll develop your area and you after you vote.". The person says "No no. The opponent party has given more than Rs 6000. Will you give atleast Rs 4000?. I think its possible for you. You didn't come here in an auto like one independent candidate who came here yesterday.".

Kalikartha lowers the Manimaran's joined hands and says to the crowd "My party won't contest in your area. But let me tell you one thing before we leave. You have rights to vote for your favourite party. But you don't have rights to decide whether a candidate should come in an auto or in Audi car for asking your vote. I'll take your leave. Thank you so much." and leaves the area with Manimaran.

He then asks his partymen and the police department to monitor who and all illegally deliver money for voting and says that he'll take care of them on the day of vote counting. The election then happens.

On the day of vote counting, Kalikartha exposes the illegal delivery of money by lot of parties including the leading central party and gets a stay order from court to stop counting the votes they secured. The election commission stops counting them.

Since most of the counts remain stagnant, their alliance wins and Kalikartha, since he had big support among the partymen, gets appointed as Prime Minister by the President.

Chapter 2:

After taking oath as PM, Kalikartha starts the testing process of the business report program in some colleges. It gains some momentum and then he implements it in every colleges through UGC. Lot of innovations are implemented in agriculture and mutual growths were seen in industries and agriculture and the economy increases.

Alongside he starts analysing the corruptions done by the previous government. One such corruption he busts is illegal import of luxury cars from Portland to India. They are freshly manufactured cars but were imported as used cars so that they don't need to pay tax. Following this, lot of IAS officers (whose signatures were gateways), custom officers, civil servants are arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. He does this to slow down the corruptions as the current officers have a fear that if another government comes after the next election, they'll also get arrested.

The next year, Kalikartha's finance minister in sync with him announces the budget plan. One among the plans was the payment of the dealer charge, excise duty, dealer commission for importing crude oil by government instead of public. Not only this, there were lot of tax exemptions in various purchases. In a nutshell, the amount spent for the country will be higher than the same spent for the excess income for the politicians. This shocks Kalikartha's own partymen and lot of alliance parties since the money they'll get will be low due to lot of exemptions. Everyone starts raising their voices not to give more exemptions. Kalikartha says that his decision is final and won't be changed.

He starts implementing the plans and lot of prices including fuel price are reduced. The general public are so happy and grateful to him as they have a refreshed domestic life. Lot of government servants become merciless and the opposition parties frequently hosts strikes against him pointing out some minor mistakes, but nothing stopped him. They wanted a big mistake to point out and bring him down.

So through Kalikartha's partymen, they come to know about his past and they find about the 'Vikrasena Weapons' company. They find that Vikrasena has killed many politicians and has got away from the sentences using his political influence.

Instead of pointing out that, Kalikartha's party has bailed out the notorious Vikrasena a lot of times, they fabricate an evidence that Kalikartha is the one who ran the 'Vikrasena Weapons' and Vikrasena was none other than his Benami. Fearing that if they directly take it legally, the police may find out that its a fabricated one, they show it in the news channels which were owned by their parties. Those media channels creates a huge hype about it.

When they produce the evidence to the police department, the cops say that they want to cross check the evidence and they announce the same in the media as well. All the local politicians in every states conducts huge strikes by burning Kalikartha's effigy pressurising the police department to arrest Kalikartha. Riots happen in lot of places attacking the shops, burning the buses and blocking the roads and railway tracks. So the schools, colleges, temples, malls and the local shops gets closed.

The police department conveys to that Kalikartha they are helpless and don't have time to cross check the evidence due to the pressure handling the law and order problem and also asks him why don't he file an anticipatory bail. Kalikartha says the riot will increase if he files it since the demand is to arrest him. He them to come and arrest him so that the riot will be controlled completely or atleast to an extent. Kalikartha is arrested and produced in the Delhi high court. The court asks the police department to take him to custody for enquiry and produce him back after that.

In the enquiry, he explains "I came to Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka to execute suicide bombing on the then Chief Minister but changed his mind after meeting Vikrasena. Vikrasena only started 'Vikrasena Weapons' and killed the politicians who were been my enemies using poisoned stuffed sickles.". Police takes this as the statement and submits in the supreme court. The opponent lawyer argues that "Evidence says Kalikartha is the owner of 'Vikrasena Weapons'. But he denies it and says Vikrasena is the true owner. Let what he says be true for an argument. If Vikrasena was arrested, why should he get bailed out again and again? Kalikartha wants him to kill many more politicians right?". The judge then gives judgement that Kalikartha will be hanged till death in Tihar Prison after two days. While coming out of the courtroom, Sukumar asks him, "Very sad that they gave death sentence to you at last, chief." Kalikartha laughs and says "At last only they'll give. Will they give at the beginning itself?". Kalikartha is sent to Tihar.

Kalikartha's lawyer takes the case to Supreme court and the hearing gets scheduled on the day before the hanging of Kalikartha. Some politicians bribe the jailer to hang him on the day of the Supreme Court hearing at 5:00 AM.

TRAGIC MISTAKES MADE IN THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST NOT BE REPEATED

On the day of execution, the jail officials ask Kalikartha whether he have any last wish. He asks them to bring him a sickle. The jail officials stares at him. Kalikartha says "I'm not gonna chop anyone of you. I just want to swing it for 5 minutes. I was a martial arts teacher before going to Sri Lanka. I don't want to die as a teacher who is out of practice in sickle swinging. That's why I'm asking.". The jail officials bring a sickle which is used to cut grass in the prison and gives it to him. Kalikartha swings it for 5 minutes and gives it back to them. He takes bath and is provided with tea.

After taking a sip of it, he says that it doesn't have sugar. The jailer grabs the tea glass from him and puts it down. Then he is taken to the hanging room. There he finds 10 tamil politicians who belong to a party in Tamil Nadu with which he had alliance. He asks the jailer that why they are here. The jailer says "They are here to enjoy seeing you dying." and pulls him to the hanging table and his face is covered a hands are tied. When the jailer's watch shows it's 5:00 AM, he signals the hangman.

When the hangman is about to pull the lever, the lights in the gallow switches off and it becomes dark. Then the hall gets filled with smoke that is coming from a fire. A politician walks out of the hall to see what's burning. He someone standing with a fire stick and gets kicked by him and falls inside the room. The person with the fire stick enters inside the room. The jailer asks "Hey! Who are you? How you entered inside?". The person says "If there are ways to escape from the prison, won't there be a way to get inside? Don't you understand? 'Bribe'". Kalikartha recognizes the voice and thinks that it's either Vishwaksena or Vikrasena since both are twins and have similar voices. The jailer asks "Why you have come here?". The person says "In a hanging room, there should be only a jailer, jail constable, doctor, hangman and the convict. I came here to know the reason why these fellows with an ugly dhoti are standing here and at the same time why this execution is carried out today instead of tomorrow.". The politicians, jailer and the hangman try to attack the person and fights them back for self defence. During the fight he takes his gun and shoots them dead and the doctor runs away from the room.

Kalikartha, as he knows, Vikrasena doesn't use guns, says "Vishwaksena?!". "Yes its me!" says Vishwaksena. He then unties Kalikartha, takes him out of the prison. Kalikartha asks "Where are we going?". Vishwaksena says "Delhi airport. Don't ask anything more as of now. Just come with me.". Kalikartha says "Today there's supreme court hearing.". Vishwaksena says, "The supreme court hearing will happen as planned. Vikrasena has come out of Puzhal jail in parole and given the legal documents of 'Vikrasena Weapons' and I've given a retrieved phone call audio between you me and him to your lawyer.". Kalikartha asks "You mean the phone call which we had when you met me for the first time?". Vishwaksena says "Yeah. That only. Your lawyer will prove your innocence there. So don't worry about it and now come with me.".

Escaping from Tihar, Vishwaksena takes Kalikartha to Delhi airport in a car. In the terminal, check-in and in the security check, the airport police and staffs doesn't show gun on Kalikartha and allows him inside which puzzles him. Vishwaksena takes him to a room in the lounge, gives him a formal costume and a blazer and asks him to wear them. After he changes Then they go to the runway through the backyard and reaches to a black coloured A340 flight with a logo 'Vishwaksena' on the side. Vishwaksena says to Kalikartha, "It's my private jet. By the way, I think your government is weak. All the airport staffs got my bribe to make you esacpe without a second question.". Kalikartha is shocked. Vishwaksena says "You spent the exchequer money for the country. Had you also spent them for these fellows' salaries as well, not even a single rupee would have been collected by them." and takes him inside the flight and the engines are started. The flight taxies to the runway and takes off. Kalikartha thinks that Vishwaksena is taking him to Philadelphia but clueless about why.

In the morning, the Supreme court hearing happens. The doctor confesses what happened in the hanging room and says that he doesn't have any idea about who shot everyone and took Kalikartha with him. Kalikartha's lawyer submits the evidences provided by Vishwaksena to the judge. After listening to the audio, the judge asks the lawyer that "So he bailed Vikrasena several times since he feared that he'll kill him if he doesn't have a soft corner for him. Correct?.". The lawyer says "Yes, my lord.". The judge writes a judgement that Kalikartha is innocent and is not eligible to get hanged. He grants bail to Kalikartha and orders the police department to arrest all the politicians who fabricated the fake evidences and also find where Kalikartha has escaped after asking any of his partymen to file an Harpious Carpos. Sukumar files it and the Police starts searching.

The people are happy that Kalikartha is bailed out but at the same time puzzled about where he has gone missing. Some of the shops are closed due to bandh. In Tamil Nadu, an online movie reviewer goes to a tea shop, with a tired and a sleepy face says to the owner, "Brother just now I saw a worst movie with more than 100 social messages. Give me a glass of strong tea. So that I can be energetic enough to tarnish it online.". The owner, who is already frustrated that no customers visited his shop since morning, simply stares at him. The person says, "Why are you starring at me, Brother? Give me a glass of strong tea". The owner says "A Prime Minister is missing, man. We don't know where he has gone and whether he's alive or not. That is not your problem. But a worst movie matters to you more." and then gives him a tea.

Chapter 3:

Some hours later, when Vishwaksena's flight descends towards a city, Kalikartha looks out through the window and says to Vishwaksena "This doesn't look like Philadelphia. Where are we landing?". Vishwaksena says "It's not Philadelphia. Its Detroit. I have another business here.". Kalikartha says "What brings me here?". Vishwaksena with a sarcastic smile says "Nothing. Have food. Throw the leaves. Wash your hands and sleep. That's enough". The landing gears are brought down and the flight lands in the Detroit airport.

While taxing to the parking, Kalikartha looks through the window and sees a convoy waiting for Vishwaksena. After parking, they come out of the flight and Kalikartha follows Vishwaksena to a limousine and enters inside it. From there the convoy goes to a factory named 'Venus Motors'. Vishwaksena introduces himself to Kalikartha that he's the CEO of Venus Constructions in Philadelphia, Venus Motors in Detroit and Venus fuel in Toronto. Then he takes him to the conference room where the directors and staffs were waiting.

There he says "Dear friends. Some luxury cars which were made here were supposed to be deliver to some Indian ministers. They were illegally shipped as used cars with fake invoices by one of our dealers in Portland to them.". Pointing his hand to Kalikartha he says "He's Mr. Kalikartha, the honourable Prime Minister of India who busted those ministers.". Everyone claps.

Vishwaksena says "Since this is a confidential meeting, I think I can break a truth here. One of the cars was not shipped from Portland. It was me who brought that car outside the harbour. When a gunmen noticed me and alerted others I killed him by hitting the car on him and escaped from there. Later that car was legally sold as a first hand car to the minister who ordered it. Just imagine how his reaction would have been.". Everyone laughs. Then he says "We should not let this happen again. Hereafter used Venus cars should be sold to other countries. The same owner can only ship it to another country for his use there." and ends the meeting. At night, he takes Kalikartha to his beach house at Marine City.

At the beach house, when he says to Kalikartha "Tomorrow we are going to Toronto to explore the fuel factory and....". Kalikartha interrupts and says "Enough is enough! I'm not ready to risk my life anymore. Your brother made me a politician using sickle and I don't know where you'll lead me using gun. Just take me back to Delhi tomorrow or just take me to the airport now. I'll fly myself to Delhi. I'll resign as a Prime Minister and go back to my hometown Madurai and live peacefully. I'm tired." and goes to the balcony where the beach can be viewed.

Vishwaksena says "It all started in a beach like that in Rameshwaram right? After our first meet, we have talked over phone a lot of times. I've asked you a lot about your politics and you've asked me a lot about my business. But if I ask you something I never asked you off-late, will you tell me the truth?.". Kalikartha turns back and looks at him with a doubt. Vishwaksena says "After becoming CM or after becoming PM, did you ever thought of searching for your wife and children using your power?". Kalikartha, with his eyes wide open and a shocked face looks here and there. Vishwaksena says "I understand that your ego is not letting you to answer. If you're not interested in searching them, now itself I'll arrange your trip to Delhi. Not after sunrise and breakfast. Right now!".

Then he adds "You don't have family but all the government staffs and ministers had family. Since you spent the government money more for the country and less for them, they couldn't run their family easily and that is why they wanted to destroy you and that is why the Delhi airport staffs got bribe from me. Had you balanced the country and them equally there wouldn't have been any problems.". Kalikartha realises the truth and feels guilt.

Vishwaksena says "Ok let it go. I've found your wife and children and they are in Canada. Like you reunited my family, to reunite you with them only, I thought of taking you there tomorrow. But if you're not interested, you can fly to Delhi in my flight now.". Kalikartha with tears says to Vishwaksena "No. I want to go back with my family.". Vishwaksena says "Ok sure. No problem. After resigning in Delhi, you can go to Madurai in my flight itself. Is Madurai airport big enough to accommodate an A340?.". Kalikartha wipes his tears and says "No. I won't go to Madurai. I want to continue as a PM in Delhi and sort out the problems. I've initiated lot of good welfares and schemes for people and it should reach them. Now I'm saying. I want to go Delhi with my family.". Vishwaksena says "Good to know.".

The next day both fly to Toronto. Kalikartha sees his wife Nagavalli and his children waiting outside the airport. Nagavalli looks at him with her eyebrow not fully but slightly down and with some tear drops. Kalikartha slowly goes to her and asks "H.. Ho... How are you, Nagavalli?" Nagavalli says "We were not waiting only today. We were waiting for many years. Very glad that you didn't forget my name.." Kalikartha touches her feet with tears and says "Please forgive me Nagavalli. I couldn't care about you and our children since I cared more about our country.". Nagavalli consoles him and says "I know through newspapers and news channels about how you perform as a leader. Every time I read it I'll feel proud that I'm having a husband like you. What more could I and our children ask for? Only thing we regret is we were not next to you when you do all of them.". Kalikartha says "No regrets hereafter. We'll go back to India and restart our lives together.".

Vishwaksena explores his fuel factory to Kalikartha. Later he publically announces through media that Kalikartha and his family are with him. Then he send him and his family back to Delhi in his flight. In Delhi airport, the press people asks him who helped him escape from Prison. He says "Some necessary evil" and walks to his convoy. He continues as PM sorts out all the issues of all the government servants and increases their salaries and speeds up their growth. The rivalry between them and him come to an end.

-To be continued