The current political circus over the July 22 trust vote is a perfect breeding ground for laughter.
I am sure the TRPs of all the other laughter shows currently running on several television channels must have dropped considerably. They ought to. After all, our politicians have taken over that responsibility. People are getting a constant doze of laughter when they see their netas changing their political colors faster than a chameleon. And, we can’t help but burst into laud laughter when we hear them that they are doing so to protect national interest. Ever since the four left parties with their collective strength of 61 MPs withdrew their support over the Indo-US nuclear deal, we have had the show on 24/7. No other time to be an MP was the right time as it is now. Even the parties which had only single MP in the House have overnight became most significant and sought after parties.
(Oh.. the debate in the run up to the trust vote in the Parliament has begun after the lunch break.. I must catch up some more opportunities for pure laughter... so please excuse me... I will finish this when I return, if not tired after the bouts of laughter. Stay tuned... to be continued.)
MPs are chased, shadowed, lured with assortment of allurement. Words like “national Interest,” “horse trading” and “poaching” are back into vogue, allegations run thick and fast with every political parties accusing the other of bribing their MPs. There is a mad rush: for retention of power by those in power; for grabbing power by those who are in opposition; and by those who seek their share in power equation. The race is on. Ailing MPs are being airlifted from their hospital beds, suspension orders are being revoked, old animosity forgotten, new friendship emerging to become bonhomie relationship in less than overnight, the third front is formed, broken and formed again with some old partners gone and new partners joining in, sans any ideology, only national interest please!
How many times have you heard the word “national interest” in the last three weeks? Any guess? May be more times than India’s annual budget!! We are so lucky to have our elected representatives are wearing the label of “we are for national interest” around their necks all the time!!
Now consider the following recipe for bouts of laughter:
MPs until yesterday seen as avowed supporter of their parties have switched their loyalties. Don’t ask them why, the answer is known, “in the national interest.”
A political party opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal consistently for last two years has suddenly found it to be beneficial and hence would support the government in the trust vote. Ask its leaders why? No, please. You should by now know that they did that after consulting top scientists, including our former scientist president Dr. Kalam. It took them two years to consult them because they were on vacation or on sabbatical, or they were not ready to talk to them!!
Our Left Comrades, who withdrew support to the government professedly for their opposition to the civil nuclear deal with the United States, are now linking the decision to withdraw also to the failure of the government they supported from outside (they do everything from outside!) to tackle the rising prices and inflation. They are moved by the plight of poor people and government’s neglect of them! How many years since the Left formation are ruling West Bengal? Close to three decades. Ah, there must no poverty in West Bengal then! Extreme poverty is a shameful blot on Indian democracy but using it as a shield to fight political battle is even more shameful. Also, for the Left, the deal is a precursor to India becoming a client state of America, our national pride is compromised. Did we hear any vociferous protests from these guardians of India's pride when China snubbed India by summoning our Ambassador to at 2:00 a.m. in the morning?
One MP of a national party was seen in the camp of an opposition party’s tea party, came back to his old party affirming his loyalty during the dinner hosted by his old and original party, only to change the side again the next day! Poor man! Was he hungry or acting in national interest?
The left says that by going in for the civil nuclear deal with the United States, the Congress has violated the basis of Common Minimum Program (CMP), since it is not part of the CMP. The CMP was adopted in May 2004 and the first negotiation for the deal began well after that. I ask them the reverse: is there any specific and explicit mention in the CMP that this government cannot enter into the civil nuclear deal with the United States? For that matter, is there any reference in the CMP of any specific bilateral or multilateral agreements with any countries? Or do they believe, in the national interest, that India should remain “Minimum”!!
Last but not the least; listen to the debate going on in the Parliament on the Confidence Motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Every speaker has something to offer to satisfy your appetite for laughter. All have come out as laughter champions with equal score! No losers, all winners!
And some serious notes and some points to ponder:
Most ironically, the debate on the floor of the house has no meaning. Because the decision on which way the members of this August House should vote has already been taken by their respective parties in a three-line whip issued by each political party prior to the beginning of the debate. Anyone challenging the whip would stand the chance of being disqualified from the membership of the house.
So much for our democracy! How right Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was when he said in his speech marking the closing of the Constituent Assembly that, “democracy in India is a top dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.”
The current political circus for power also reminds us of another speech, the speech by the leading light of Indian industry, and a great visionary, J.R.D. Tata, delivered at the annual general meeting of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in 1968. During the speech, he said, “Unless the political system in force functions effectively, unless there is political stability and the rule of law prevails, all efforts to improve the economic climate will be frustrated. On the basis of this criterion and in the light of the recent outrageous events in Bengal and other Legislative Assemblies, the proliferation of parties and groups within parties, the scramble for power or for the retention of power, the disintegration of law and order in many parts of the country, the increasing weakness of the Central Government, is there not justification for the view I hold that the political system of government we have adopted is in the process of failing?”
Four decades on, the same question is still relevant and the time appropriate to revive the debate on what is an appropriate political system for India: Westminster parliamentary model we have or the presidential system?”
I am sure the TRPs of all the other laughter shows currently running on several television channels must have dropped considerably. They ought to. After all, our politicians have taken over that responsibility. People are getting a constant doze of laughter when they see their netas changing their political colors faster than a chameleon. And, we can’t help but burst into laud laughter when we hear them that they are doing so to protect national interest. Ever since the four left parties with their collective strength of 61 MPs withdrew their support over the Indo-US nuclear deal, we have had the show on 24/7. No other time to be an MP was the right time as it is now. Even the parties which had only single MP in the House have overnight became most significant and sought after parties.
(Oh.. the debate in the run up to the trust vote in the Parliament has begun after the lunch break.. I must catch up some more opportunities for pure laughter... so please excuse me... I will finish this when I return, if not tired after the bouts of laughter. Stay tuned... to be continued.)
MPs are chased, shadowed, lured with assortment of allurement. Words like “national Interest,” “horse trading” and “poaching” are back into vogue, allegations run thick and fast with every political parties accusing the other of bribing their MPs. There is a mad rush: for retention of power by those in power; for grabbing power by those who are in opposition; and by those who seek their share in power equation. The race is on. Ailing MPs are being airlifted from their hospital beds, suspension orders are being revoked, old animosity forgotten, new friendship emerging to become bonhomie relationship in less than overnight, the third front is formed, broken and formed again with some old partners gone and new partners joining in, sans any ideology, only national interest please!
How many times have you heard the word “national interest” in the last three weeks? Any guess? May be more times than India’s annual budget!! We are so lucky to have our elected representatives are wearing the label of “we are for national interest” around their necks all the time!!
Now consider the following recipe for bouts of laughter:
MPs until yesterday seen as avowed supporter of their parties have switched their loyalties. Don’t ask them why, the answer is known, “in the national interest.”
A political party opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal consistently for last two years has suddenly found it to be beneficial and hence would support the government in the trust vote. Ask its leaders why? No, please. You should by now know that they did that after consulting top scientists, including our former scientist president Dr. Kalam. It took them two years to consult them because they were on vacation or on sabbatical, or they were not ready to talk to them!!
Our Left Comrades, who withdrew support to the government professedly for their opposition to the civil nuclear deal with the United States, are now linking the decision to withdraw also to the failure of the government they supported from outside (they do everything from outside!) to tackle the rising prices and inflation. They are moved by the plight of poor people and government’s neglect of them! How many years since the Left formation are ruling West Bengal? Close to three decades. Ah, there must no poverty in West Bengal then! Extreme poverty is a shameful blot on Indian democracy but using it as a shield to fight political battle is even more shameful. Also, for the Left, the deal is a precursor to India becoming a client state of America, our national pride is compromised. Did we hear any vociferous protests from these guardians of India's pride when China snubbed India by summoning our Ambassador to at 2:00 a.m. in the morning?
One MP of a national party was seen in the camp of an opposition party’s tea party, came back to his old party affirming his loyalty during the dinner hosted by his old and original party, only to change the side again the next day! Poor man! Was he hungry or acting in national interest?
The left says that by going in for the civil nuclear deal with the United States, the Congress has violated the basis of Common Minimum Program (CMP), since it is not part of the CMP. The CMP was adopted in May 2004 and the first negotiation for the deal began well after that. I ask them the reverse: is there any specific and explicit mention in the CMP that this government cannot enter into the civil nuclear deal with the United States? For that matter, is there any reference in the CMP of any specific bilateral or multilateral agreements with any countries? Or do they believe, in the national interest, that India should remain “Minimum”!!
Last but not the least; listen to the debate going on in the Parliament on the Confidence Motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Every speaker has something to offer to satisfy your appetite for laughter. All have come out as laughter champions with equal score! No losers, all winners!
And some serious notes and some points to ponder:
Most ironically, the debate on the floor of the house has no meaning. Because the decision on which way the members of this August House should vote has already been taken by their respective parties in a three-line whip issued by each political party prior to the beginning of the debate. Anyone challenging the whip would stand the chance of being disqualified from the membership of the house.
So much for our democracy! How right Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was when he said in his speech marking the closing of the Constituent Assembly that, “democracy in India is a top dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.”
The current political circus for power also reminds us of another speech, the speech by the leading light of Indian industry, and a great visionary, J.R.D. Tata, delivered at the annual general meeting of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in 1968. During the speech, he said, “Unless the political system in force functions effectively, unless there is political stability and the rule of law prevails, all efforts to improve the economic climate will be frustrated. On the basis of this criterion and in the light of the recent outrageous events in Bengal and other Legislative Assemblies, the proliferation of parties and groups within parties, the scramble for power or for the retention of power, the disintegration of law and order in many parts of the country, the increasing weakness of the Central Government, is there not justification for the view I hold that the political system of government we have adopted is in the process of failing?”
Four decades on, the same question is still relevant and the time appropriate to revive the debate on what is an appropriate political system for India: Westminster parliamentary model we have or the presidential system?”
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