Somnath Chatterjee has re-established the authority and the constitutional sheen of the office of the speaker by reminding his former party where politics must cease when it comes to legislative business. He needs to do something similar to restore order and clarity to what is becoming, as it were, a CD affair. The BJP has released what it says is the transcript of the alleged cash-for-votes CD. There are also now “rival” CDs, with the first CD’s accused accusing their accusers. Simultaneously, the BJP has renewed its arguments against CNN-IBN. However, this matter won’t go away simply by political players and a broadcaster issuing duelling statements because at the heart of it is the question of Parliament’s standing.That leads us straight to the speaker. Chatterjee has constituted a parliamentary committee to inquire into the matter. There’s already a distinct impression that the committee is a sideshow, that the BJP and the broadcaster are the main players; an impression not corrected when it met on Monday to view whatever audio-visual evidence has been provided it and, being staffed with seven experienced MPs, immediately asked for an extension. This needs to be fixed. The party and the TV channel can continue their argument and take what action each deems fit: that’s their right in a democracy. But it is Parliament that must tell the nation whether there is a material basis for us to ask further questions.Chatterjee has been vigorous about defending Parliament’s rights and privileges and its authority to decide on issues involving MPs. Arguably the most crucial application of that thesis has come up now. If the committee either pales into irrelevance or descends into party-line bickering, the House will face a question of credibility. Quite apart from not wanting that on the basis of a principle, Chatterjee may also want to avoid that because it will directly influence the assessment of what may be his last major job in the public space. Therefore, Chatterjee may well consider it worthwhile to let it be unambiguously known that the speaker as the custodian of the Lok Sabha’s dignity would appreciate a quick, impartial and thorough inquiry. If the committee can satisfy everyone that it did its job as well as it should, the Lok Sabha that Somnath Chatterjee presided over will set a formidable precedent in legislative excellence.
