From a federal anti-terror agency to Delhi demolitions: Five key issues that BJP veteran V K Malhotra flagged in Parliament

Malhotra served two terms as a member of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi between 1958 and 1967 and then as Chief Executive Councillor – a position which before the formation of the Delhi Legislative Assembly was akin to that of Chief Minister – till 1972. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977.

Malhotra was reelected to the Lower House in 1989, served a Rajya Sabha term from 1994 to 1999 where he was the BJP’s chief whip towards the end of his tenure. He was again reelected to the Lok Sabha in 1999 and was appointed chief whip in the House.

During his fourth term as Lok Sabha MP, he served as Deputy Leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party in the Lower House.

Here are five key political issues he had raised during his tenure:

-Demanded a “patriotic” law to back a federal anti-terror agency on December 11, 2008, during a discussion on the 26/11 attack in Mumbai:

“… make a federal agency. Institute a powerful patriotic law to back it… we will be very happy and fully support it, provided it has a strict law to stop terrorism in its hands… What is regrettable today is that patriotism or nationalism has somewhat become synonymous with abuse… I would urge the Home Minister that we have fully supported you, the entire house, the entire nation is extending support to you.”

-On the motion of confidence in the Council of Ministers moved by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 21, 2008, Malhotra had accused the UPA of horse-trading to remain in power. He also questioned Indo-US relations in the context of the nuclear deal and the larger prism of foreign policy under the UPA 2:

“… the Congress’s four-year rule has been anti-people, based on cheating the people… But the biggest crime, the biggest sin committed by the UPA is engaging in (horse) trading… is wanting to be a hanger-on behind America, a good deed for this nation… In its four years, this government has lost the faith of the people.”

-On April 17, 2008, he questioned the law and order situation in Delhi, diversion of its police force for VIPs and lack of recruitment in its ranks over the years:

“… murders, rapes, abductions and dacoities are happening on such a large scale that Delhi is becoming the crime capital of the country… five lakh people make their way to Delhi each year but the number of police personnel is not being increased. Here, it is required to deploy police for VIP security and VIP movement. Recently, for the ‘Olympic Torch’ which has come to Delhi, 15,000 police personnel were deployed. For all the crimes which are taking place across Delhi, no arrangements have been made…”

-During a discussion regarding internal security on December 5, 2007, Malhotra took on the UPA government over the issue of Kashmiri Pandits, terrorism, alleged links between Maoists in India and Nepal and Bangladesh:

“… The Congress president remembered the Gujarat riots, but did not recall the Sikhs who were murdered in Delhi, 5 lakh pandits have been expelled from Kashmir, she did not remember them… the situation in Bengal is deteriorating due to Maoists… they get arms from Maoists in Nepal, get funds…Bangladesh is becoming a big centre of terrorism.

-During a submission on the issue of demolitions in Delhi, Malhotra had hit out at the UPA government on May 19, 2006, over continued action against properties despite court orders to the opposite:

“… It was said that no rehri-patri walas will be removed. We had cleared the Bill in both Houses. What happened after its passage?… In 3-4 days, 1,000 shops were demolished…”

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