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Journalism of Courage
BJP must consider costs of disdaining Parliament. And UPA of bypassing it through ordinance
Two days ahead of schedule,the budget session of Parliament was adjourned sine die,to no great surprise. The trend of daily stalling by the opposition parties left no space for confidence that there would be any turnaround in the last 48-hour stretch to make up the backlog. For this,the blame must primarily be laid at the BJPs doorstep. No party in this Lok Sabha has provided evidence of a responsibility to privilege Parliaments rhythms and procedures above its narrow political agenda. There is depressingly little reason to believe that Vice President Hamid Ansaris timely plea for introspection by all stakeholders will be heeded. But the BJPs record is unmatched in cynicism and audacity. While in the last few days it sought the resignations of the law and railway ministers as a precondition to letting the Houses function,from the very beginning it has been intent on finding a demand a day on which to stall proceedings. It stands exposed for abdicating its responsibility as the main opposition party to use the floor of the House to engage on the legislative agenda and to question and extract information from the government.
This is also why the Congress should desist from the temptation to give effect to its legislative plans through ordinance. Bills,like those pertaining to food security and land acquisition,that it is keen to have passed,will have far-reaching consequences and should have the stamp of parliamentary approval. After all,its record in transacting the give-and-take needed in breaking the deadlock in Parliament is not exactly sparkling. Bypassing the floor of the House now to effect laws will further undermine the legislature.
