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A YEAR THAT EXPOSED BJP'S HYPOCRISY

Sarvjit Singh

It is a year since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government came to the power at Centre. After having spent its longest time in Opposition _ six years to be precise _ the Congress was voted back to power by people. These six years that the Congress spent in opposition stand as a mature political party and in sharp contrast to the BJP, that continues to throw up tantrums like a spoiled child unable to face the reality of defeat. Obviously the BJP leadership has a longway to go to mature as a political party and is yet to learn the ways of electoral politics.

After the change of guard at the Centre, it was anticipated that the BJP would mellow down after the electorate rejected its grandiose claims of "India Shining". Having spent a number of years in the opposition and then getting the opportunity of running a coalition government, the expectation was that Indian democracy would witness mature politics. For a party that was once again assigned the role as a principal party in the Opposition, the stint in handling the affairs of the nation should have given the BJP and its leadership necessary understanding to rise above petty and partisan politics. Yet, this was not the case.

The party simply changed its policies with the change of roles. It simply disowned some of the steps the BJP-led NDA had taken during its tenure. A classic example of this turn-around was when it refused to vote in favour of the Patents (Amendment) Bill, a piece of legislation that was infact drafted by the previous NDA Government to facilitate India honour its international commitment.

As if that was not enough, the party ruled that States where the BJP or its allies were in power, the respective State government would not implement the progressive Value Added Tax (VAT). The new tax regime that was once described by the BJP Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha as the most progressive system was dumped at the altar of political expediency. Political opportunism of seeking popularity instead of preparing the people keep pace with the world was the visible motivation behind this move.

These are just two glaring example of the shindig, the BJP and its leaders have been making since the time they were voted out of power. Contrast this with the support that the Congress gave to the NDA in passing important Bills including an amendment to the Patent Act, the Anti-Defection Amendment Act, creation of three new States and several economic measures the Government took.

The BJP's attitude of confrontation began with its abhorrent campaign against the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, what with Smt. Sushma Swaraj, threatening to tonsure her head and don white robes even as Smt. Gandhi was making the supreme sacrifice of polity refusing to take the top political post to which she was elected by leaders of all the UPA constituents.

The series of disruptions and disregard towards the institution of Parliament began from day one. The BJP which at one time thought it had the divine right to continue ruling the country did not have the courtesy or the patience to allow the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to introduce his Council of Ministers to Parliament. Worse, they stalled proceedings and disrupted both the Houses. So much so, the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address to the Joint Session of Parliament had to be adopted last year without even a discussion. It happened for the first time in the Indian Parliamentary history.

Argument of the BJP that it was opposed to inclusion of some `tainted' ministers is indeed nothing but an act of sheer political hypocrisy. One does not have to dig deep to recall that three prominent ministers in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet were charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation for one of the most shameful acts in the annals of the country's history. The alleged involvement of these three ministers in bringing down the Babri Masjid, an act that cast a deep scar on secular India, is too well known to be repeated. The conspirators had perpetrated this act even after assurances to the contrary being given in the floor of the Parliament and the highest courts in the country.

Yet, the BJP now insists that it has the right to determine who should or should not be included in the Union Cabinet, a prerogative of the Prime Minister. It is this norm that Shri Vajpayee invoked to defend his questionable move to re-induct Shri George Fernandes, few months after he resigned in the wake of Tehelka revelations. Shri Fernandes, the then Defence Minister, remained under investigation for irregularities throughout his stint in the ministry; the BJP does not want to be reminded of this chapter.

The latest boycott of Parliament is only an extension of BJP leadership's churlish behaviour. Refusing to see reason, discuss issues and have an informed debate. That too after the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh assured that the Government was prepared to discuss any issue. Instead of taking the offer, the BJP preferred to carry a campaign outside the House. Besides wasting both time and money, the BJP has forced even its constituents from discharging the duly elected Member of Parliament promises to do. Individual attitudes and stand-offs take precedence over pressing problems that need collective solution. The Opposition is refusing the role it has been assigned to play. It is treating Parliament, a place of debate as an arena of political demonstration.

Yes, it is for the opposition to expose and oppose. But for that, it has to occupy the space allotted to it on the floor of the House. What is more galling is that the BJP accuses the ruling combination of ignoring the Opposition, a habit that it perfected while in power. It is ironical that the BJP which completed 25 years of its being is yet to display political maturity and takes the easiest route of putting the blame of its own failures at the doorstep of the Congress.

The Parliamentary democracy can only function in a healthy manner when there is a constructive opposition. The BJP has been assigned that role today and if they fail even in this, as they did as a ruling party, history will never forgive them.

- The author is a Member, Editorial Board, Congress Sandesh.