Cash or Country……… what comes first?
As the Lok Sabha met yesterday for the final debate that went to the wire and ultimately ended in a high voltage drama of emotions, political bartering, deals within a deal and allegations and counter allegations. Indian Democracy is at its lowest. This day will be that black lettered day in the history of the house that will continue to haunt the members for a long time. And the apparent end of the trouble, the political insecurity will kick the beginning of a new controversy over the cash for votes controversy .
The day began in a shaky tone with lots of egos flying and hurting each other. Especially the opposition members were acting cynical at times. They virtually interrupted every word of the UPA and its supporters. Infact the much-awaited speech of young congress MP from Amethi and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi was aborted midway or rather had to be. The house had to be adjourned and ultimately when the proceedings began at 2 PM he could conclude with much difficulty. But one thing was sure, here is a man who thinks of rising above party lines and dreaming of an empowered India of tomorrow. He is a man who did not fail to congratulate the leaders of today and yesterday and on a lighter note asked his counter colleagues to at least clap then. He then spoke of what impacts India could make in the future in the world scenario. And walking in the lines of the computer boys of yesteryears (Rajib and his cabinet man were named so in 1985), made an important point before the house. But the house failed to realize the gravity of the situation for it was too busted in cross party crossfire.
Then the BJP MPs under their leadership went roaring on many finer issues of the nuke deal, revolving around the nucleus of 123 agreement and safeguards agreement at least on a dozen of occasions. It was surprising to see the way the opposition conducted itself in the unparliamentarian way. But the spice to the curry was added by the speech delivered by one of the most charismatic leaders of the UPA cabinet Sri Lalu Prasad Yadav, Railways Minister when he delivered a speech in Hindi, and throwing a few open questions and challenges to his colleagues in the house on the opposite side of the fence. And this Chain – Reaction of parliamentary diplomacy was ON (big time).
And then the unprecedented drama of the day. Cash flew in to the house and was tabled in the house – 1 crore of hard barren cash on the tables of the Lok Sabha, the temple of democracy in the country. 3 BJP MPs led by Arghal and Baghora went to display the sum of money they allegedly received as a bribe from Mr. Amar Singh of the SP assisted by Ahmed Patel of the Congress. They said that they even had a sting operation report in this matter and later the editor of a leading news channel went on to submit them to the speaker of the house and demanded a privilege committee on the issue. And demanded resignation of the Prime Minster on Moral grounds. Their proposal was supported by many other leaders including Balsore BJP MP M A Karabela Swain and Prabhunath Singh of Janata Dal, who has been another firing gun from this side. Earlier in the day allegations of misuse of CBI the highest investigating body in the country to mold the opinion in favour of the Congress and UPA came to for raised by BSP MP Brajesh Pathak, He said that there Behenji Srimati Mayawati ji was being un-necessarily dragged into this.
The house had to be adjourned till 6PM with an all party emergency meeting convened by the speaker and ultimately when they began proceedings at 6PM. J&KNC MP Omar Abdullah who said that his conscience still holds him guilty for not resigning after the Gujarat riots lighted the spark of this last session of debate. He further went on to say that as a Muslim and a Kashmiri hew could assure that till the last Muslim lives in Kashmir Amarnath Yathra will go on uninterrupted. His brief fiery speech amidst the tensions when even the Prime Minster had to halt midway and table his speech in the house, Mr. Abdullah went on in a very well restrained manner and made his voice and point clear.
The fact that Dr. Manmohan Singh was not allowed to finish his speech was a shame of some sorts but ultimately he had to publish that speech in his website, and the public in general can only read fragments of it in tomorrow’s daily.
And when the momentous hour of voting came, both electronically and manually casted votes were taken into consideration and the following results were achieved.
The Speaker declared the divisions of the trust votes and declared the AYES or people favouring the motion the winners in today’s trust vote and adjourned the house till Sine Die.
In this entire issue what was hurting and extremely painful and shameful was the cash that made its way into the Lok Sabha and the way the Opposition had attempted contempt of the house and the chair of the Speaker. But Somnath Chatterjee one of the most experienced politicians of the house conducted himself in a way when he has become the epitome of parliamentary democracy and constitutional post. He in the most impartial way defied all party politics of either side and remained neutral at this crucial hour to be an exemplary guardian and custodian of the house that has tasted its acid bottom today. What outlives in history the win or the cash flying in the house is what time will be able to tell. But for then ………………………………
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Disclaimer:
The author is a non-political person and believes in his sense of judgment, intellect and integrity to write this article and take his own stance on the issue in a very democratic and impartial manner