Once again, a badly divided House

But why did the Opposition insist the Gujarat discussion be conducted under Rule 184? Government handlers argued that Gujarat was a state matter and hence could not be discussed under this rule. Deputy Speaker P.M.Sayeed, however, admitted the motion and effectively echoed the Opposition’s point.

In the unlikely event of the motion being carried, the Centre will be forced to go in for some kind of decisive intervention. Sayeed gave a hint of what could be done when he invoked Article 355 of the Constitution, under which the Centre can send out a directive to uphold the rule of law in a state. Article 356 can follow and the government then can be dismissed.

The consequences of such a motion being carried can prove costly for the BJP. This is why the government did not want the motion to be admitted. But the government has the numbers to get the motion defeated. The allies may have shouted themselves hoarse about their secular concern, but the lack of options outside the NDA and their unwillingness to shed ministerial berths will make them vote against the motion. The Opposition, too, has helped the government by its poor drafting skills. As one minister remarked after Sayeed’s decision: ‘‘Where is the element of censure in this? Had it been a motion under some other rule, even the government could have supported it!’’