We have come to the end of a short but successful session. It should be evident to the country that we really are a constructive opposition. When legislation is so drafted as to meet the country’s interests, we support such legislation even if it is brought to parliament by the government of the day. When we see that particular provisions require amendment, we press for such amendments and do all we can to ensure their acceptence. And when a legislation is proposed which, in its generality or its specifies, is not in the interests of the nation, we are resoulte in our opposition.

What distinguishes us from the NDA partners, and the BJP in particular, is that we are consistent, whether we find ourselves on the Treasury benches or in the Opposition.We do not take one stand when in Opposition and a contrary stand when in Government. In contrast, the ruling coalition is charaterized by its chronic habit of saying one thing in Opposition and quite the opposite in Government.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill we passed in this winter session is a good example of our consistency and the inconsistency of the NDA. When in opposition, the BJP in particular, bitterly and ahhressively attacked the Bill. Now that they are on the Treasury benches, they have made a total turnabout.The Congress, on the other hand, has been consistent in devising and espousing economic reforms which are in the larger interest of our people. That is why we supported the Bill. They have abandoned their own economic policies and adopted ours with the zeal of the newly converted.

The NDA’s draft legislation on insurance did not adequately reflect our concern with regard to infrastructure, the social sectors and poverty eradication programmes. Nor was their draft adequately vigilant with respect to ensuring a level playing field, both as between domestic and multinational players as well as between the public sector and the private sector. This reflects the essential differnece in our approach to economic reforms. We remain committed to the welfare of the poor and deprived, as we have been ever since the days of Mahatma Gandhi, Panditji, Indiraji and Rajivji.

I am glad we were able to push through our amendments before voting for the Bill. We must continue to read future Bills very carefully and ensure that every comma of any legislation brought to the house is vetted most minutely. As I mentioned the last time I spoke here, we are in the process of setting up a department which will study the Bills and prepare backgound notesand papers for you. We have made progress. We are in the process of getting adequate space and by the time you will be back for the budget session, the Department will be fully functional.

A beginning has been made with regard to WTO-related legislation. Where as it was our Government of 1991-96 which had done the essential preparatory work, we have supported the legislation whose origin lies in our term of office. Here again we had seen the inconsistency of the NDA partners. Most of them, when in opposition, were bitter opponents of the cause they now seek to represent. But where it is at their initiative that WTO-related legislation has been brought to Parliament, we believe it is essential that the Bills be examined in detail in consulation with experts. This appeals, for instance, to tha plant Protection Bill as much as to the patents Bill. This requires the most careful examination. We have resisted, and must continue to resist all attempts to pressurize us to pass legislation in a cursory manner.

We have made our stand on the Women’s Reservation Bill clear. It must be introduced in the house, discussed and paddes. We all know that mere introduction is not even a statement of intent. Indeed, it might be quite the opposite, a technique for disguising the real intent. Yesterday, when I raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, the Government would go no further than committingitself to its introduction. The Government’s proposed introduction of the Bill on virtually the last day of this session, so as to postpone debate and discussion is but a ruse to buy time to cover up the widening cracks in the ruling coalition on this critical issue.

Matters relating to Ayodhya dominated a significant of the proceeding in this session. It is clear that this issue remains very much part of the BJP’sagenda, as do other contentious issues. We have succeeded in securing from the prime Minister a reiteration of the NDA’s intention of keepingsuch issues on the backburner, but the tardiness and inadequacy of the Prime Minister’s responasse to the UP Chief Minister’s statement reveals what it seeks to hide, namely, that all these contentious issues remain at the veryn heart of the BJP’s agenda and are being kept asid, if indeed they are being kept aside, only for reasons of temporary expediency. The threat to secularism from the BJP’s real agenda remains as looming and menacing as ever.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister invited me to discuss the CTBT with him and his colleagues. I was accompanied by Manmohan Sinhji, Pranab Mukerjeeji, Madhavrao Scindiaji and Natwar Sinhji. This was the first time that a briefing was given to us. I told the Prime Minister that I appreciated his inviting me and my colleagues for this discussion on an important matter. Since the issue was so complex, it was not possible for us to give a response without reflectingon thr issues raised and after further consultations within the party, we would, if necessary, get back to him. I am told that the Prime Minister is holding similar meetings with leaders of other opposition parties. Tomorrow there will be adiscussion in the Rajya Sabha where the CTBT issue will also be touched upon by our colleagues.

Having said that, I like to congratulate our members on the decorum they have maintained even in the face of extreme provocation and on the manner in which they have stood up on issues of national importance and for principles central to the spirit of our Constitution and our national ethos. I hope we will continue to maintain these high standards of restraint and self-discipline.

In a few days, we will be into a new year and a new century. As we look around tthis historic hall, we see the wall adorned with portraits of the giants of the century, the mentors and heroes of our freedom struggle. Their lives and work continue to inspire us. And, as we come to the close of the century, it is appropriate that we pay them our homage and we express our gratitude and debt for their endeavour and sacrifices.