Opposition unites to corner the BJP-led government

Refuse to relent till errant minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti resigns

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in the Rajya Sabha on errant minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti notwithstanding, the Opposition appears to have dug in its heels, refusing to relent, till the minister resigns. 

Even as the deadlock continued in the upper house for the third consecutive day (where the government is short on numbers), the Opposition closed ranks in the Lok Sabha, “boycotting” the day’s proceedings and protesting against the government, which acted through “brute majority.” This move coincided with the rallying together of six parties of the ‘Janata parivaar’ to work towards forming a single political outfit. 

The Prime Minister's call, urging the Opposition to get back to business in “national interest”, fell on deaf ears as the Congress-led Opposition reminded the BJP of washed out Parliamentary sessions and parliament logjams in the UPA era. 

 

With the Opposition refusing to play ball, the BJP-led government accused the Opposition of “betraying the deal” they had agreed to, a charge refuted by the Opposition. 

PM Narendra Modi’s appearance in the upper house in the morning, after he had been attacked by the Opposition benches for being absent in Parliament, could not placate the Opposition. 

Modi said, “I disapprove of the kind of language used by the minister in the strongest terms. The minister has apologised and the House should gracefully accept that and carry forward its business, in national interest. In the heat of elections, leaders should avoid using such words." 

The Opposition stormed the well of the house refusing to relent. 

In the lower house, Congress, arch rivals TMC and Left parties, SP, BSP, DMK have come on board to bolster their numbers against a formidable strength of 282 of the ruling party. The Opposition benches were empty all day as a united Opposition walked out protesting. While business continued uninterrupted, the government was compelled to defer voting on the bill aiming to Repeal 90 amendment Acts which have become obsolete, with no Opposition MPs being present. 

An agitated Opposition addressed the media waiting outside. "We have been asking for a statement from the Prime Minister for the past 2-3 days, but he is not giving any statement. They (government) think they have brute majority in the house and whatever they do will be fine. This is not good for democracy," said Congress Leader of the house Mallikarjun Kharge. 

Opposition party leaders subsequently held a brief brainstorming session, where a decision was taken to hold a protest with black bands over their mouths in front of the Gandhi statute on the premises, signifying how their right to be heard was being muzzled by the government. That would be followed by registering their protest, on the floor of the House. 

The government, which is keen to get its legislative agenda rolling, according to sources was initially fine to have a resolution in the Rajya Sabha beginning next week, condemning all such statements from ministers. However, since the government has publicly stated that the “matter was closed”, it was not willing to agree to such a joint resolution. Opposition sources divulge, that in such a scenario, that they “cannot guarantee smooth running of the house from Monday.” 

The coming together of the ‘Janata Parivaar’ found resonance in the corridors of parliament as Janta party members prophesied about how they would first themselves come together and then “bring our brothers” the Left parties on board. 

Congress’ Anand Sharma addressing the media was strident in his attack on the Modi-led government, “They (BJP) are far from apologetic, they are aiming to polarise and create communal divide.” 

Asked whether the bills would be a casualty to such stalling tactics, Sharma replied, “The responsibility of running the Parliament lies with the government.”  

Congress refused to respond to charges that Sonia Gandhi’s “maut ka saudagar” remark was not too different from that of the Sadhvi’s. “This is an abuse which has been hurled at 70% (of the electorate) who do not subscribe to BJP-RSS philosophy. That is unacceptable”, shot back Sharma.