The government and the main Opposition party bear equal responsibility for ensuring that the forum of Parliament is not wasted
The government and the main Opposition party bear equal responsibility for ensuring that the forum of Parliament is not wasted
From the way politics seem to be moving, fears may not be unfounded that we are headed for a washout not only of the current Parliament session, which ends on September 7, but also have a deep shadow looming over the Winter Session in November.
If the political knot remains unresolved, it is not unthinkable that the standoff between the government and the BJP, the main Opposition party, may well extend to next February’s Budget Session. This will be the last opportunity for Parliament to discuss government finances in the UPA-2’s lifetime.
Essentially, anxieties over the forum of Parliament coming to a grinding halt midway through the life of the 15th Lok Sabha flow from the BJP’s demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must resign, taking responsibility for coal allotments in the period that he held that portfolio. The BJP demand is based on the CAG’s report that a notional loss of `1.86 lakh crore was sustained by the national exchequer due to the absence of transparency in allotments. The subject is conceptually complicated as it involves handing out natural resources to private parties to exploit. Different policy options, including the one adopted by the government, have deficiencies, but also some merit. All this, and the suspicion of foul play and corruption entertained in some quarters, should have been placed for scrutiny on the floor of the national legislature. In a democracy, what better site for public discourse and putting the government on the mat than Parliament?
Alas, the main Opposition party decided not to choose parliamentary debate as an option, but has demanded “accountability” from the government without pinpointing the latter’s failings. This can hardly be a sustainable line of argument. Since the BJP pitched its demand (for the PM’s resignation) so high, it may well find it hard in practical terms to retrace its steps. Besides, the existence within the party of hard-headed individuals, who do not defer to reason, cannot be ruled out. Even so, it is in the country’s interest that Parliament should run smoothly so that matters of national importance can be discussed from every perspective. The government and the main Opposition bear equal responsibility to ensure that the forum of Parliament — which is India’s pride — is not wasted. That would amount to cheating the people. Both sides would have to bend a little to make this possible. Neither triumphalism from the government nor misconceived ostrich-like conduct from the BJP is what this country needs. Political pique must not be permitted to dictate the agenda.
