After the foreign investment in retail issue split the ruling UPA coalition, the Lok Pal Bill has succeeded in getting them all on the same page as the government.
All the hitherto troublesome alies — NCP, DMK, Trinamool Congress, National Conference, etc, are supporting the government stand. While all major opposition parties flocked to the Jantar Mantar agitation venue to make common cause with Anna Hazare yesterday. not one UPA ally did so. And, Hazare’s strong attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and scion Rahul Gandhi has also resulted in unanimity within the Congress party on the Bill.
A Congress leader said, “We are glad that he (Hazare) has inadvertently reduced our headache. Our allies are standing with us and all those that are anti- government are on the other side.” Adding, “As long as Anna was non-political, he and his supporters acted as a pressure group. Now that they are openly political, the scenario has changed.”
Information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni, accusing the opposition of “double standards”, questioned why they were raising (Lokpal) issues outside Parliament when it was in session.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, speaking on Monday on the sidelines of his birthday celebrations, stated it was okay for political parties to air their views, “but Parliament is the place for final discussions and decision”.
NC leader and Union minister Farooq Abdullah said so, too. “Parliament is supreme. They (Opposition) should put forth their views in Parliament, which is the right forum”.
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Even the DMK, reluctant to toe the Congress line on FDI in multi-brand retail, is unwavering in support on the Lok Pal. Spokesperson T K S Elangovan said, “We are one with the government on the Lok Pal. We have a few suggestions which we shall put before it but we are flexible on it.”
When asked if the Congress had made a mistake earlier by going ‘soft’ on Hazare, spokesman Renuka Choudhary said: “We did not make a mistake; we were on the learning curve.” Adding: “Personal attacks on individuals can only be pitied. The one-day fast was rank political opportunism.”
A TMC leader said, “FDI is past. It’s behind us. We are with the UPA on the Lok Pal bill issue.”
That TMC is standing alongside, too, will definitely boost the UPA, emboldened with its allies on board, as it gets ready to face an all-party meeting on the contentious issue on Wednesday.