This refers to the editorial, “Obstructionist mentality” (January 15). Congress president Sonia Gandhi's lament on the ‘dictatorial' tendencies in the Government is uncalled for. Her fears on the changes to the land acquisition Bill are misplaced, and her take on the ordinance route is a display of ignorance. The previous Parliament session was greatly paralysed due to a stiff-necked Opposition. The Congress MPs were hell-bent on creating ruckus in Parliament, instead of probing the Government with genuinely uncomfortable questions.
A tit-for-tat policy is not healthy for a party struggling to remain in circulation. Ms Gandhi should know that any Government which has comfortable numbers, will carry a streak of belligerence. However, if she wants the UPA's ambitious programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the food security Act to remain undiluted, she should ask her MPs not to push the Government into a corner.