HVK Archives: Vajpayee's act was the one and only redeeming factor
Vajpayee's act was the one and only redeeming factor - Times of India
Soli J Sorabjee
()
7 June 1996
Title : Vajpayee's act was the one and only
redeeming factor
Author : Soli J Sorabjee
Publication : Times of India
Date : June 7, 1996
Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves.
Before the ministers in the BJP government could reply to
the warm congratulatory letters they are out of office,
allegedly armed with lethal 'secret' information about
their political opponents, notwithstanding the penal
provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the solemn
implications of the ministerial oath of secrecy. The
Enron business was transacted surreptitiously during
lunch break instead of frankly informing the House about
the severe time constraints which understandably
necessitated it. Before the confidence motion could be
put to vote the government resigned. The live telecast
of the proceedings during the confidence motion revealed
little difference between some of our elected
representatives and noisy disobedient children. Poor Mr
speaker was hardpressed trying to impart some decorum to
the proceedings by various strategies ranging from
coaxing to scolding and also referring to Atalji as 'your
prime minister.' Some members were keen to display their
poetic talent but their quotes and improvisations lacked
relevance. The redeeming feature was the heroic
performance of Vajpayee. Today he is the most popular
political leader and is perceived by many as the prime
minister of our country but without the BJP, which is
like expecting performance of Hamlet without the Prince
of Denmark.
Deep skepticism prevails about the parliamentary
longevity of Prime Minister Deve Gowda, and the United
Front ministry. Three regional parties, the Tamil
Maanila Congress, Telugu Desam and the DMK, have formed a
Federal Front and decided to join the government thanks
to the admirable perseverance of V.P. Singh. Let us pray
that under his wise guidance the leaders of the United
Front, despite the endemic internal squabbles will
provide some measure of stability, a tremendous
responsibility which they owe to the nation. Miracles,
after all, do happen. And not only at Lourdes.
Various unanticipated issues have cropped up. Should the
President deliver a fresh message outlining the policy
and programme of the new government which in some
respects may be in direct variance with that of the
outgoing government? In case the United Front government
is voted out in the near future, is the President obliged
to dissolve Parliament and plunge the country into the
turmoil of a fresh election? The better view is that the
President is not bound by the advice of a ministry which
has demonstrably lost the confidence of the House and the
matter of dissolution in such a situation lies within his
discretion. Can the President on his own undertake an
exercise to form a national government? That is doubtful
in view of the existing constitutional provisions. The
constitution of Nepal has attempted to cope with the
phenomenon of a hung Parliament by providing that "His
Majesty shall appoint as Prime Minister a member who is
able to command a majority with the support of two or
more parties represented in the House." If that is not
possible, then the King is empowered to appoint as Prime
Minister the leader of the parliamentary party that holds
the largest number of seats in the House of
Representatives, and the Prime Minister has to obtain a
vote of confidence within 30 days failing which the King
shall dissolve the House of Representatives and order
fresh elections within six months. The need of the hour
is to consider requisite constitutional amendments to
prevent the spectre of hung parliaments.
Comparisons are odious, especially if they are based on
gender, race or ethnic origin. The conclusions of the
study team that French males top the list in the art of
love-making - the Italians running a close second and the
Americans a miserable third - is objectionable. it tends
to perpetuate certain stereotypes. Besides, what is its
value when it has excluded the virile Pathans and the
vigorous Sardars as also the practitioners of the Kama
Sutra in our spiritual motherland who can educate the
French and other westerners in this sublime art.
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