At the start of the Winter Session, there was hope that Parliament will finally get some work done. Now, those hopes have been dashed
After a cordial meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, it was expected that the Winter Session of Parliament would run smoothly and the reform Bills might go through. Mr Modi began the session with a conciliatory note not only in his speeches in Parliament but also through the rare gesture of inviting Ms Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for tea to break the ice.
The Congress too climbed down and showed signs of supporting the Goods and Services Tax Bill, which the Modi Government desperately wants to push through. Days later, Congress leaders are now talking of a touch-and-go scenario even though the Government has responded positively to their demands on the issue.
So what has happened to change this scenarioIJ The first is that Ms Gandhi, who had gone abroad after the meeting with Mr Modi, has just returned. So, the Congress has still to make up its mind only after some structured meetings with BJP leaders. Congress insiders claim that most of the junior leaders close to Mr Rahul Gandhi and a section of senior leaders are of the view that the GST Bill should not be passed in the Winter Session and that the BJP should be taught a lesson for blocking the legislation during the UPA regime.
Second, the atmosphere has become vitiated after Monday’s Delhi High Court judgement on the National Herald case which involves the Nehru-Gandhis and other Congress leaders. The Delhi High Court dismissed the plea by the Gandhis for exemption to appear personally in the trial court.
The High Court had observed that the modus operandi adopted by them in taking control of the Associated Journals limited, through a special purpose vehicle, showed “criminal intent”.
Also, the commission of enquiry investigating the land deal of Ms Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra now wants to summon him. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Gujarat leader Shankar Singh Vaghela, former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s son Kartik are all under investigation in this case.
Unsurprisingly, the Congress did not lose a minute in alleging “political vendetta” against its leaders. The party is a little confused whether the order in the National Herald case is to tighten the screws and compel the Congress to help pass the GST Bill or if the BJP has given up hope and is, therefore, using pressure tactics.
Mr Gandhi has already been talking about the way his family members are under attack from the BJP Government. He told reporters: “I absolutely see a political vendetta. I will answer in Parliament.” He echoed his mother’s sentiments. Earlier, a combative Ms Gandhi had thundered: “Why should I be afraid of anyoneIJ I am Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. I am not scared of anyone.” So, now it is back to square one of confrontation.
The BJP has also been working on parallel lines. The first was Mr Modi’s conciliatory route. Apart from that, the BJP leadership had told its MPs to be restrained in the House and not fall into any provocation trap laid by the Opposition. But now, the confrontation line continues. This was evident from the way even BJP Ministers took on Congress leader Kumari Selja on her controversial remark on caste issues.
As for the Congress, the initial talk of constructive cooperation has given way to despair, provoked by the fast-tracking of the investigations against its top Congress leaders. The Congress demand for the sacking of Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh, for his controversial remarks on Dalits, rocked the upper House. Mr Gandhi even led protests in Parliament against Gen Singh. The Congress has two reasons for demanding Gen Singh’s sacking. One is to counter the BJP’s appropriation of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar and the second is to counter BSP chief Mayawati’s moves. Ms Mayawati is positioning herself for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and the Congress, enthused by its Bihar performance, is hoping for revival in Uttar Pradesh as well.
If this trend of confrontation continues, the Winter Session will also will be a washout. The ruling coalition and the Opposition must come to a compromise.