When the Budget session of Parliament began on February 21, people in general and industry in particular were hoping that the political class would ensure that the two Houses conducted the necessary parliamentary business to bring back the national economy and governance on to the rails.
Analysis
When the Budget session of Parliament began on February 21, people in general and industry in particular were hoping that the political class would ensure that the two Houses conducted the necessary parliamentary business to bring back the national economy and governance on to the rails. In short, there was some hope that the institution of Indian Parliament could show the way to the people that the political class of the country was aware of their problems and concerns, and that they are ready to sink differences to create a conducive environment for overall growth and progress.
But alas, the scene is disappointing and gloomy as the entire week beginning on April 22 after a recess of a month has produced virtually no result as the two Houses only produced lots of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Crucial Bills which could have paved the way for the revival of economic growth are in jeopardy. Notwithstanding the specific causes of the present impasse, it is not difficult to draw the larger picture in the prevailing chaos and confusion. Successive sessions of Parliament over the last three years have been wasted because of political one-upmanship and confrontation.
While the ruling combine and the Opposition have been at loggerheads on the issues of the leaked draft report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 2G spectrum allocation, alleged attempt by Law Minister Ashwani Kumar to influence the CBI report on coal scam, and also the chit fund scam in West Bengal have brought Parliament to a virtual standstill. One fails to comprehend as why all these issues could not be debated, so that people are also informed of the stand that is taken by different political parties.
The case with regard to the Law Minister’s alleged vetting of the status report of the investigations in the coal scam case is before the Supreme Court, which had directed the CBI to submit an affidavit on March 26, if the report had been shared with the political executive. The hearing of the same had been fixed for April 30, but even before the highest court of the land could come to a conclusion on the claims and counter-claims of the Government and the Opposition, the work of Parliament was stalled and no business could be conducted for four days. One wonders why the two Houses could not take up important legislations until April 30, when alone the Supreme Court was scheduled to take up the case.
The Opposition, particularly the BJP, has escalated the battle against the Government by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Law Minister Ashwini Kumar on this issue, and the removal of JPC Chairman P C Chacko on the subject of 2G spectrum allocation. Such demands are nothing but a display of disrespect to the parliamentary democracy.
Demanding resignations of a Prime Minister, head of the ruling UPA coalition which continues to enjoy the confidence of the majority of the Lok Sabha and his party, seems to be targeting the electorate, not the prevailing ground political realities. A Government, according to the Constitution, can only be defeated or removed on the floor of the House. A no-confidence motion against the Government is the instrument for removing a Government.
It seems that the nation’s political system is not keen to work for the good of the people who elect their representatives for solving their problems and making their lives secure and prosperous. Irrespective of the party-tags that people’s representatives carry, they are not debating and legislating in Parliament and the State Legislatures.
Neither important Bills like those on Land Acquisition and Food Security are going to be debated and passed by the two Houses in the remaining period, nor any debate on the demands for grants of various ministries taken up for debate and vote. Already there are media reports that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, left with no choice, will have to apply the ’guillotine’ on the passage of demands for grants of various ministries, on April 30. For several years, only a very few ministries’ demands for grants are discussed in the Lok Sabha but this year it would be a record of sorts.
By guillotining the demand for grants, way would be paved for the passage of Finance Bill which is likely to be taken up on May 6 and 7. The Opposition would not stand in its way because failure to pass the Finance Bill would create a constitutional crisis as without passing of the 2013-14 Budget, all Government work would come to a halt. Naturally, the Opposition would not like to share the blame for this.
(The writer is a Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation)
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