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Journalism of Courage
As the UPA fumbles and falters,the BJP looks petulant and churlish
At a moment when the governments image appears more bruised than ever before,the opposition may be rushing to the rescue. By announcing its parliamentary non-cooperation movement,the BJP has successfully deflected some of the hostile glare on to itself. Adjournments,disruptions,sulks and boycotts appear to have become the rote reflex for Indias principal opposition party. While the government has brazenly stonewalled on many matters,the BJP has,equally often,chosen to make a scene rather than grill the UPA in Parliament and extract accountability. Its latest announcement,that it will have no truck with the speaker or the parliamentary affairs minister,could mean that it has all but disengaged from the legislature,that it is now in screensaver mode until the Lok Sabha election. If it is so convinced of its case against the UPA,and so unwilling to do business with it,why doesnt the BJP move a no-confidence motion?
Certainly,the BJP is not solely responsible for the drift in Parliament. But it must bear responsibility for actively squandering session after session instead of using the opportunity to discomfit the government while carrying out necessary legislative business. According to estimates by PRS Legislative Research,since 2009,one in five bills passed has seen less than five minutes of debate in the House. This general budget was debated for a mere 11 hours an all-time low for parliamentary engagement. The BJP must realise that important legislation is pending in Parliament,bills that matter greatly to the people who elected it to the House.
