For the Opposition, the highpoint of the Budget session’s first half was the way it deployed strategy and guile to mastermind the Modi government’s first defeat in Parliament on March 3, moving an amendment to the motion of thanks on the President’s address that was carried 118-57 in the Rajya Sabha.
But in the second half, it was Rahul Gandhi’s return to Parliament that provided the high spots.
A refreshed — and apparently more focussed — Mr. Gandhi made a few pointed interventions in the Lok Sabha largely in defence of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, provided the Opposition with a memorable description of the Modi government as being a “suit-boot ki sarkar” and demonstrated his identification with the younger generation by flagging the issue of net neutrality.
Mr. Gandhi’s statements were by no means brilliant but, fortunately, for him his timing was perfect and his choice of subject apt. As the government approaches a year in power, the sheen is beginning to wear off — the BJP’s abysmally poor showing in the Delhi Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s politically incorrect choice of a monogrammed suit and the fact that the economy has not shown any great improvement has ensured that some fatigue has set in, making Mr. Gandhi better for TV TRPs — and unnerving the government.
Two, the continuing spotlight on the government’s proposed “anti-farmer” amendments to the 2013 Land Acquisition Act has coincided with unseasonal rains, rising prices of fertilizers and the government not keeping its promise to increase the MSP of key crops. This has tarnished the Modi government’s image, reflected in the unhappiness of many BJP MPs from rural constituencies.
By staying on message, the Congress has put the government on the back foot, forced it to defend itself against accusations of encouraging crony capitalism at the expense of the agrarian sector and taken the leadership of the Opposition as the Land Act the government wishes to amend was passed by its government. With Mr. Gandhi identifying himself with the issue, taking over gradually from mother Sonia Gandhi, he is moving to a larger role.
On the other hand, the government’s disregard for parliamentary procedure has become only too glaring.
Possibly, the only exception was External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Her personal appeals to the Opposition leaders saw the historic Indo-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement Bill cleared unanimously by both the Houses. On the other hand, MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy has been ticked off on occasions by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for “advising” her on the floor of the House. And Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on the closing day of the session, defied the Speaker, leading to an adjournment of the House.
Meanwhile, if the accusation against the Prime Minister is that he still remains in the election mode, his party in Parliament functions as though it is still in Opposition. The just concluded Budget session may have demonstrated once again the ruling dispensation’s deftness in using its numbers to move its legislative agenda forward. But its lack of regard for parliamentary decorum and, despite its best efforts to divide the Opposition, its relations with those who sit across the floor in Parliament hit rock bottom in the closing days of the just-concluded Budget session. This is a situation that needs to be corrected — not through constant one upmanship, but through dialogue, in the best traditions of parliamentary democracy.
