logjam in Parliament a betrayal of public trust
It is ironical that Congress president Sonia Gandhi considers the suspension of 25 of her party MPs from the lok Sabha as the “murder of democracy”, when in fact it is the intransigent behaviour of Opposition leaders, who have held Parliament hostage for weeks together, that makes for a dark chapter in the country’s democratic history. Besides, the MPs have only been kept out for five days and may even be allowed back into the House sooner, if the Congress agrees to cooperate. The suspension, therefore, is more symbolic than substantially punitive.
However, the Monsoon Session of Parliament is already on the verge of being a washout because the Opposition has simply not allowed any significant business to be done. Important reform legislations, crucial for the revival of the Indian economy, are pending with both Houses but none have received the attention they deserve. Even the Home Minister’s statement last week, in the aftermath of the major terror attack in Gurdaspur, was drowned out. The lead Opposition has maintained a narrow focus on its own agenda and refused to look at the larger picture. Its maximalist position – ‘no discussions before resignations’ — has pushed both the ruling coalition and the Opposition to far ends of the political spectrum, leaving little ground for compromise.
For example, in the Sushma Swaraj-lalit Modi case, the Opposition has been so obsessed with extracting the External Affairs Minister’s resignation that it has refused to listen to her side of the story. This has added credence to the argument that the Opposition isn’t really concerned about political propriety but merely seeking a political trophy. Also, there is nothing to suggest that even if the Government gives into the Opposition’s (rather ridiculous) demands this time around, the latter will allow cooperate. Some cynics may even go so far as to argue that this level of disruption is only an extension of the previous Congress-led UPA regime’s scorched earth policy.
During the last years of its second tenure, the Congress knew that it would have a tough time returning to power, and so it allowed for the worst kind of populist policies — which the NDA Government must now grapple with. Similarly, by preventing Parliament from functioning at this stage, the Congress is delaying or derailing the reforms process. And for this, the NDA may have to pay the price.
Such a situation is untenable. It is an unacceptable waste of public resources — several crores of rupees are spent each day that Parliament is in session — and an equally unconscionable betrayal of the public’s faith in their elected representatives. It is nobody’s case that the Opposition toe the Government’s line for that would be a betrayal of another kind. It is, after all, the Opposition’s duty to keep a check on the Government and highlight the latter’s shortcomings.
However, this cannot become an excuse for, what can only be described as, political blackmail. As President Pranab Mukherjee had said, “Democracy comprises three D’s — debate, dissension and decision — but we have brought in a fourth ‘D’ — disruption for which there is no scope in the system.” Finally, the Government also has a responsibility to forge consensus with the Opposition and ensure that the House functions smoothly.