The Bharatiya Janata Party has played true to form in immobilising Parliament over its demand that the Prime Minister resign in the wake of the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s adverse report on the allocation of coal blocks. It is a behaviour pattern witnessed ever since the BJP moved to the Opposition benches following its shock defeat in the 2004 general election. Rather than use the platform provided by Parliament to grill and expose the government on its failings, the party has revelled in obstructionist theatrics, leading to the unfortunate impression that the principal Opposition is dodging a debate either because it is not well-armed with facts, or worse, because it has something to hide regarding its own conduct. The BJP’s case is that since Coalgate happened partly under Manmohan Singh’s watch, he must resign owning moral responsibility for the scam. Fair enough. But in that case, the BJP ought to have grabbed the UPA government’s offer to hold a discussion on the issue. Joining the argument would have achieved many things for the party: it would have forced the government to explain why and how it came to preside over what has come to be seen as the biggest scam to date. It would have showcased the BJP’s abundant debating talent. And it would have shown that its unsavoury past actions notwithstanding, the party can and will uphold Parliament's best practices and traditions.
Indeed, on the rare occasion that they have taken the floor, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have turned in sterling performances, skewering the government for the world at large to see. Could the BJP be avoiding a discussion on Coalgate because the audit story has turned out to be equally unflattering to itself? As the CAG’s report records, two BJP State governments of the time, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, had opposed competitive bidding in coal block allocation. In response to a 2005 letter from the Union Coal Ministry, Chhattisgarh’s Chief Secretary had argued that bidding of coal blocks would make steel projects unviable. For her part, Vasundhara Raje, who was Rajasthan Chief Minister at the time, had taken cover under federalism, projecting bidding as Central interference in the State’s autonomy and decision-making powers. The BJP’s problem is that for every finger it points at its opponent, it has three pointing back at itself. It cannot start a crusade against corruption without questions being raised about the liberties it offered to the mining mafia in Karnataka. Were it not for these fatal chinks in the Opposition’s armour, the Congress would have been on the mat by now.
Yes,it is surprising why is the main opposition party BJP avoiding debate on Coalgate and
asking for PM's resignation.Moreove it is more surprising that CA.G.being part of the
govt.and has been given top position in audit and account of the various departments,is
being criticised by the senior most ministers and even they had press conference yesterday
to disown the CAG report on Coalgate ! Where are we going and I feel most of the times are
shielding their omissions to remain in power.I feel this complete misuse of parliamentary
democracy !
The opposition party BJP is also involved in the scam.Coal gate is the child of both UPA and
BJP.It is a shame for us and the country.We as voters demand the government and the
opposition to conduct the business in the parliament, for indepth discussions and bring for
the facts to the public .They have no right to steal our time and money given to them for
parliament functioning.This is not an entertainment scene in cinema where hero and villain
fight each other with out fight and join hands after shooting is over and earn money out of
it.Burning problem of the country which warrants thread bare discussions to bring them to
light .No wonder if both the parties burry the coal under the earth again.Common man's
economy is at stake If not done the political parties are totally responsible for the loss of hard
fought democracyIn our country in the long run.Save India please.
The entire political system of India is a case study for how power
breeds greed. If we just, for a moment, forget about the fact that
these are two different political parties that we are talking about
and simplify the understanding by saying that these are people from
our society who are in the profession of politics, it becomes clear
that they can't be vastly different from each other, after all they
have to have some commonality, as to choose the same profession.
The word politics means policies for governance, however, the basic
policies of governance have already been documented by the earlier
generations of political leaders. Thus, the only aspect that requires
our scrutiny is the candidature more than, which political party is
ruling the country.
This or any other scam is most likely to engulf any individual or
group which had once run the government irrespective of the political
party they hail from, which is also why there have been minimal
political convicts in our country.
When the BJP does not facilitate a debate on the coalgate but obstructs the House proceedings, is it not open to the Speaker to order their expulsion from the House so as to give opportunity for the non-BJP Opposition to debate the issue and elicit the government's stand so that the people may be better informed to arrive at their own conclusions ? The House is not BJP's party forum to have it conducted as it pleases. The Speaker should be assertive enough to deal with the obstructing Opposition.There is no point in appearing to be helpless in the matter. People are interested to know what the PM as the then Coal Minister has to say and how the non-BJP Opposition reacts to it.
Is there any choice left for Indian voters if they desire a corruption free country (or at least a system which is willing to be corruption free)? Congress Party, BJP, CPM, (do I need to count DMK?) - name any one which is not indulged in huge corruption (read, misuse of power)? Do we need to call ourselves the largest democracy of the world? I really find no words to express my feelings. We, the commoners have to live and die like worms.
We all know that Congress and BJP are kettles in black. But if we say that UPA or your editorials justify Government's stand for discussion for mud slinging at each other with no one taking responsibilty it will not be acceptable to the public who lost the money in the loot and not BJP or Congress. If BJP chief ministers were wrong, our "economist" and "honest" Prime Minister had all the powers to veto them in the interest of people's money which he was expected to safeguard. Same was the case in 2G scam when PM had kept his eyes closed while the loot was going on.
Your editorial, though it makes good reading, does not give any solution to the problem.
What would happen about a great debate? As you said, there had been instances where leaders of opposition grilled the govt like anything but did anything happen after that?
Take the joke called JPC. The group wants to investigate Vajpayee and George Fernandez but not Chidu and MMS who are the pillars of the 2G scam. What do you want to opposition to do in such a scenario.
Excellent debates does not get anybody's attention of the loot. Even press will write two columns one by the ruling class and other by the opposition and the gullible public will be left confused.
The opposition sees this as the best way to keep the issue burning and getting the common man's attention. Although it is for political gains, they do not have any option when facing this unjust, shameless Government.
Some comments talk about the CAG blaming NDA or UPA The CAG is doing his job of auditing the public expenditure without fear or bias. Neither the newspapers or channels which are committed to supporting the corrupt UPA nor those that oppose the Congress for the sake of opposing the government have locus standi in commenting on CAG reports.
Your editorial was Ok till the end of the sentence The Coalgate scam happened with the PM as Coal Minister Fair enough.
What followed later was uncalled for.
This comment will be moderated and suppressed as usual.
The Congress and the BJP are locking horns now and then only to protect and promote their political interests and not to do any public good. Their policies are the same.
Both parties have been in power. None of them tried to cleanse the government of corruption. As things stand today , the public is in a double bind. It is, therefore, we who can turn around the things by electing honest people.
BJP is now working overtime to put Rahul in the PRIME MINISTER'S CHAIR
BY creating impasse inside the parliament.......
What is the difference between a Cricket captain whose team is accused of match fixing or corruption and Manmoahan Singh with his UPA team embedded deep in corruption. It really does not matter whether he personally got any money or not but he should accept moral responsibilty for overseeing his partners making money and resign. As of now Sonia is not an accused, so she can take over from him and lead the party to 2014 polls to have some chance of winning.
Every body here finds fault with BJP for not discussing the scam in Parliment. What will be the result of discussion . what result has come about the previous discussions about various scams. Nothing .Why the editorial has not addressed the points raised by leader of opp. in RS against discussion . First the ruling party should accept that something was not done properly. In the first instance itself the congress has started attacking CAG . The CAG after discussing with the dept only has prepared the Report What more discussions you want The editorial and the letters are all biassed.
I am afraid that your editorial,far from being impartial,ignores the ground realities. The scams multiply and come to light every day. Discussions in parliament,constitution of Committes,their long drawn discussions,the finer points of procedures,submissions of reports,and ultimate action -and above procedures in the Courts,
consume not months,but several years. The guilty escape with impunity. Fix the accountability and responsibility. The moral right of the Govt.to rule has been lost long back.
The BJP is well known for its guerilla tactics. It throws accusations at the government inside and outside the Parliament and when the government tries to rebut them, it stalls the proceedings by shouting and asking for resignations. It is really pathetic.
I feel the days where people take responsibility of an incident and resign from the position are over. Current party want to stick to power and siphon out our resources, become rich.
Congress leader == "We have made a loss of 1.76 lakh crores and 1.86 lakh crores, to show that India is rich that it does not care about money" pun intended
A very balanced editorial. BJP is scared that it might have to answer
very uncomfortable question regarding its role in the so called coal
scam. The other point is that the estimates of presumptive losses
offered by the CAG are not borne b facts. In 2G scam, CAG put the
figure at 1.76 lakh crore--which is being touted by the BJP till date.
When the spectrum was eventually auctioned under SC directions, Govt
could garner not more than 30k crores.A presumptive loss to the govt
by continuation of an oold policy of not auctioning coal blocks or 2G
spectrum cannot be construed as a scam.
While I am no supporter of UPA, I fear that the NDA is no better. As
or the CAG findings, the same CAG had slammed the NDA ruled Bihar Govt
on AC-DC bill reconciliation of Rs 76,000 crores in 2010.The Bihar
Govt had very rightly taken the stand that the matter cannot be
regarded as a scam. Their reaction on the issue-- shying away from
debate and demanding PMs resignation reeks of political oppurtunism.
A very balanced editorial which deserves wide circulation.
ON reading some recent reports in “The Hindu” it is clear that some State Governments did formally oppose the auction of coal blocks when this was suggested by the Centre in 2005.
IN retail FDI the BJP was all for safeguarding the States' rights, but in the coal case, they expect the PM to ride roughshod over States' objections ! Damned of you do and damned if you don't.
IT does look as though the Centre undertook coal allocations in 2005-09 as an interim measure while the auction route had to wait for suitable legislation.
Hence the onus is entirely on the States, PM and the UPA to prove that allocations were made fairly and to repeal those which do not stand up to scrutiny
Quibbling over presumptive losses is not going to help anybody, since most of the coal hasn't been mined anyway.
Finally, has anyone even tried to estimate the storm of inflation which would hit us in cement, power and steel when auctions take
place
The reason BJP doesnt want a debate is clear since they dont have any strong proofs and if the case is drill the BJP will be exposed too. So just trying to play safe inorder to show people as they are clean is even more dangerous.
Are we seeing pure Parliamentary theatrics: (i) the impunity with which
the coalition of ruling parties can get away with virtually anything -
albeit on a case by case basis and subject to successful back-room
bargaining with parties with ‘select’ voter bases (ii) the utter
frustration of other parties unable to unite to challenge the ruling
coalition on any subject - important or not (iii) the jockeying for the
best position at the start line of the impending race in 2014, and (iv)
the muscle flexing, posturing and other dominant-male displays put on in
Parliament for appreciation & enjoyment by the parliamentary village,
the media pundits, and to remind the hapless public who really is
‘supreme’ in India?
When the whole body politic seems rotten, should Indians (a) support the
parties with relatively cleaner hands to start the clean-up, while
keeping a close watch on them, or (b) fall into the trap of preventing
all actions to change the status quo: loot the nation, fool the people?
It will be a great mistake on the part of people of India to allow such parties to come to power.We must ensure that only good people from all parties get elected and people with double standards and religious bias are thrown out.
stalling the parliament is like conducting a strike , which serves no purpose . The people ofthis country want a debate into the details ofthe Coal gate scam , and ifthe oppoistion manages to hold the PM and the concerned minister to a discussion it would be more purposeful . Most people included the educated mass are little aware of the Coal allocation scam . Mr Jaitley and Mrs Susama should conduct forceful debates and expose the UPA governmnet .This can be educative and more informative to the literate voters of the country
Is it not time for this govt to go and call for fresh mandate?
why our newspaper is not dwelling straight on this point and beating around the bush?
A fine editorial.The principal opposition party has lost a golden
opportunity of parliamentary debate on coalgate and taking to task the
ruling dispensation for its acts of commissions and omissions.It has
been washing off its responsibility by simply being obstructionist.For
each and every allegation of unsubstantiated corruption charges
demanding the resignation of the prime minister would not be a good
democratic practice.It would only result in political chaos and lead
to avoidable mid term polls.Any report of notional losses or
presumptive losses is like the concept of consumer surplus in
Economics and needs to be thoroughly investigated for actual losses.It
should be noted that audit reports of notional losses should not be
used to gain political mileage at the cost of economic development.
G.Kulandaivelu
Karaikal
This is true that BJP is immobilising parliament but still this
editorial sounds strong anti BJP article. If we look at the statements
coming from various persons persons of different powerful positions it
becomes unavoidable to doubt the intentions of our government about its
willingness to discuss on coal scam. Is it not pretty clear that
Government is just trying to shift the blame as most of the time is
seen. Not only opposition but also every common man want strong action
on the culprit.
The opinion expressed by the Editor in this regard is very true. Since
the BJP is itself in a dock, it is refraining from an open debate. The
big question that has arisen amidst this chaos is the efficiency and
the performance of the Indian Parliamentary System and the maturity of
Indian Politics. Aren't the politician aware that they have been
elected by the people to put forth there questions and concerns in the
House and not before the media? Or do the politician think that the
people of India can be fooled that easily? A humble request to both
the Government and the Opposition is that don't hide away faces from
each other rather face a debate and let the whole country know your
potential and your firm stand on the issue.
Congress is bad. BJP is no better. No alternative in sight. That is our plight !
The debate has not given concrete results.In voting ,there will be horse trading.For the sake of respecting the parliament,if want to debate,it will not helpful to common man.Better I suggest BJP MP's block the Parliament,if you feel you dis-respecting the parliament better do a mass resignation to the MP seats.
The BJP’s problem is that for every finger it points at its opponent, it has three
pointing back at itself. It cannot start a crusade against corruption without questions
being raised about the liberties it offered to the mining mafia in Karnataka. Were it
not for these fatal chinks in the Opposition’s armour, the Congress would have been on the mat by now.
~ You said it, Sir.
The article in the editorial seem to be biased one. The same in my opinion shouldn't appear in editorial of a national daily like "THE HINDU". The government which want to have a discussion, should first answer that what it did in 2G scam? Its ministers even fail to see any loss to taxpayers. Sad. Again they would like to set up a committee ,which will keep investigating the matter for a decade, and reaching to a conclusion that there was no loss. Again wasting huge sum of money. What we need is a neutral organization to investigate such mega scams which is free from govt clutches. Otherwise whether its BJP or the AICC, the country will be looted in best optimum way by them. At least for now we don't want, neither we have any trust in answer of THE MOST CORRUPT govt of the country.
Surprising to see such a one sided, heavily partisan article in The
Hindu, well we all know what happens when the floor is open to debate,
the Congress leaders will call for debate under certain section and
then if they feel defeated or loosing the sense of the house, someone
silently (well) asks the chairperson to adjourn the House. The BJP is
once bitten twice shy, and hence this offensive is valid. Well, this
author would have written on how BJP is such a weak opposition had
they taken a more moderate stand.
As much as I loathe the government and the opposition for this sorry state of affairs,somewhere deep down,for the sake of Indian people,I hope the counter allegations of the central government and state governments involved be right.I hope there is actually no scam and auction probably at that time was not in the best interest of the people of this country because frankly,the country cannot stand another scam.I would like to request The Hindu,known for its unbiased credentials, to publish another work wherein they tell if there is any merit in the arguments made for not auctioning coal blocks,wherein they tell in general all the pros and cons of auction.We need someone we trust to provide an analysis so that the people of this country can decide for themselves the truth in what our politicians so vehemently claim..
It is indeed sad that BJP wants to force a mid term poll somehow on the nation with the notion that because of the wrong doings of UPA, they can capture power, without exhausting all other democratic means(paralysing the parliament as a daily event whatever may be the duration of the session,is not one among them). If they have all materials that can pin down the PM and his colleagues and can enable their party's CMs cited come clean, Parliament is the place where they have to corner in a meaningful debate and expose the culpability of the UPA dispensation. Why should they not set a healthy example as to how the nation's largest opposition party of the day should behave? After all, those who have voted for the UPA members and NDA members and members of all other parties have voted them for serving them meaningfully, and not to loot them or dirupt the parliamentary proceedings as a matter of their rights! Let them not make our country a laughing stock before the world!
Great analysis of why stalling of the parliament by the main opposition party is wrong. Congress is a thick skinned party. No way it will ask Manmohan to step down. The only thing they are able to achieve by this is the wastage of the tax payers money.
From its very genesis, the institution of Parliament has always been
envisioned to be the supreme forum holding informed and solemn
debates on issues of national interest and of public
concern.However, the Indian Parliament has for some years been
transformed into a place of cacophony, chaos and walkouts, oblivious
of the irreparable injury such behaviour causes to the very
foundations of parliamentary democracy and responsible government.
The very concept of having opposition benches in Parliament is aimed
at keeping the ruling government on the alert for being cross-
examined for its acts and omissions in the Parliament. But whoever
obstructs the Parliament like the BJP is doing at present , or the
ruling parties did while in opposition, commits grave contempt of
Parliament, and of the very people to which the government and even
the Parliamentarians are fundamentally accountable --We the People
of India-- as proclaimed in the Preamble to India's Constitution.
A crisp, astute and impartial analysis which puts all parties and institutions governing this nation and its states on the mat. High time the party presidents and leaders of all political parties are put on the mat too for not adopting real time due diligence enforcing procedures to prevent scams before they have an opportunity to occur. After all, it is the tax payers money and the assets belonging to the entire future generations that they are playing with for instant gratification. A law must be immediately passed without waiting for electoral reforms - which makes political parties, presidents and core committee members of all political parties jointly and individually legally accountable for monies that find their way INTO parties' treasury or monies that are used to fund, promote or sponsor political actitivities - be it coming from individuals or from NGOs or from not for profit trusts. Enforcement of such a law becoming a reality will ensure ending growth of black money.
The author makes a valid point though he seems little inclined to congress. It is also BJP states which did not want the auction. So both parties need to clarify.
If BJP doesn't stop revelling in obstructionist theatrics and hold a
debate then they are fearing of their crime that they may have done
earlier in their ruling time.
So if BJP want to get back their Indian empire then they should have a
healthy debate on coal block allocation and let their countrymen know
how much our country has lost due to a dark period of 8 years.
This is an uncharacteristically partisan editorial in this newspaper. Doesn't the principal opposition party have a right to ask for the Prime Minister's resignation when a major scam is reported in a ministry when the PM was himself the minister in charge. The PM should have defended himself instead of asking his ministers to mount a counter attack on the opposition As a matter of fact what is happening in the House is only making matters worse for the PM and the Congress.
It's not about BJP. It's not about the Congress Party or UPA. It's about the people of India who deserve better than this. Mr. Prime Minister do something about this scam. You are the Prime Minister of India and accountable to the people of India and no one else. Go ahead and appoint a person of impeccable integrity to investigate this scam and report it to the Lok Sabha in say, a year's time. Let the chips fall where they may. Go ahead and do it. But will you? I don't think so. Prove me wrong Mr. Prime Minister.
Whether it started during NDA.Govt.'s time or not,instead of stopping the system UPA.continued it and so the present Govt. can't shirk from responsibility from the fall-out.
Further, questioning the authenticity of a constitutional authority by immature spokespersons of UPA.is taken as bad taste.
A pot cannot call a kettle black; so, the citizens are check-mated! In a country like India, where half the nation struggles to feed and clothe itself, repeated allegations of careless incompetence let alone deliberate plunder, shake the foundations of democracy, society and humanity to its roots. So, what can honest, hard-working citizens, who have no opportunity to indulge in "rent seeking behaviour", and half the population too
preoccupied with eking out a subsistence living to worry about democracy
or voting rights (or wrongs!), do in 2014 elections?
(The Hobson’s choice Indians face is no choice at all! Yet they are
warned of the impossibility of disturbing the cosy spheres of political
domination carved out by existing political parties with their
invincible party machinery, communal / block-vote stranglehold, and
bottomless election war-chests.)
The views conveyed through the editorial "Avoiding a minefield" are out-and-out well-balanced. The CAG's adverse report on the allocation of coal blocks having made the startling revelation that the public exchequer has suffered enormous monetary loss due to the failure on the part of the government to follow the normally acceptable procedure of competitive bidding, what the grave issue needed was a full-fledged discussion in parliament. As such, instead of blocking the proceedings of both the houses, the BJP should have, in all fairness, accepted the open offer made by the government for a detailed discussion in this regard. Perhaps, past practice and partial success achieved on some earlier occasions have prompted the NDA to block the entire sessions and demand the resignation of the Prime Minister. It has come to light that the BJP-ruled states were also opposed to the implementation of the competitive bidding procedure. Both the UPA and BJP seem to be responsible for the lapse.
BJP is a party with difference. Despite being isolated they are scared of a open discussion in Parliament. CAG report is categorical about BJP, Chief Ministers request to allow RPL to use surplus Coal. Federalism may not be an issue now . BJP cannot fool the people by obstructing the proceedings of the Parliament. They have not only lost the election but also their faith in democracy. People will teach a lesson for this type of undemocratic methods adopted by them
100 % valid. After all it the same MMS who proposed to move to auction.
He may have something to say, which can happen only when there is some
debate.
It seems that BJP hopes to get maximum dividend by stalling.
Apart form that he held the dept,it seems there nothing to suggest that
MMS personally got benefit unlike (2G or others).Only after a detailed
debate and discussion many things will come out.
its an irony that We are encountering a acute paucity of the parties
which are not corrupt or if i put more accurately less corrupt,since
the whole political class seems to be beneficiary of corruption and
consequently find itself at loss when it comes to debate a corruption
issue which they were a part of in the past. \BJP finds itself stuck
between the devil and deep blue sea,one hand it want to reap the
benifit of the all time low reputation of congress by exposing the
recent scams and cases of corruption,while on the other hand it fears
that lashing out against governmen may invite ghosts for it as well
since it was also involved in siphoning off money by bypassing several
procedures.at this juncture we as a common people of india must think
of a poltical alternative as being proposed by Anna. Notwithstanding
the uphill tak of putting it into action whole country has to look
within and find out a better tomorrow by electing the honest,the ball
is in our court nw and the game is on
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