The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : It is time the BJP looked inward

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Saturday, Apr 30, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

It is time the BJP looked inward

Given the Bharatiya Janata Party's talent for bedlam, it is a relief that the party has restricted its hysterical opposition to Lalu Prasad to a three-day boycott of both Houses of Parliament. Party leaders were undoubtedly aware that any further stalling of the institution would recoil on them and firmly cast the BJP as a party that revelled in destructive politics. Hopefully, the party will devote this unscheduled vacation to turn the light inward; it has become a habit with the BJP to fly into high dudgeon over matters where its own record has been far from exemplary. The party finds it unacceptable that the Manmohan Singh Government should harbour a Minister against whom charges have been framed, further that a Governor appointed by it should have acted as an agent of the Centre. In government of course, the BJP defended these very actions, and obviously because the roles were then reversed. The party's attempts to make a specious distinction between political and criminal cases can hardly alter the fact that three key BJP Ministers, including the Home Minister, were charge sheeted for their roles in the demolition of the Babri Masjid. No corrupt act can equal the savagery involved in destroying a place of worship and unleashing communal violence.

Unfortunately, each time the BJP goes on the warpath, it is Parliament that suffers. For much of the period the United Progressive Alliance Government has been in office, the Lok Sabha has remained dysfunctional. This is almost entirely due to the way the principal Opposition party has picked nasty quarrels with the Government in a transparent attempt to disrupt the course of normal politics. The misbehaviour has not been limited to walkouts and forced adjournments. Party legislators have been disrespectful towards the Chair as well as the Prime Minister, both posts in this instance occupied by men universally regarded as learned, civil, and fair to a fault. The BJP prevented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from introducing his ministerial team; interrupted Speaker Somnath Chatterjee over and again; called him a "dictator"; threatened to boycott House panels; and forced the 2004-2005 Financial Bill to be passed without discussion. The winter session was plunged into chaos because of the Jharkhand developments where both camps indulged in horse-trading but the Congress came off the worse. The current disruption is on account of the latest chapter in Mr. Prasad's legal travails. The BJP's parliamentary conduct has been in marked contrast to its leadership's oft-stated commitment to maintaining decorum in the House. Both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani have publicly expressed themselves against holding Parliament to ransom. A huge credibility gap has emerged for India's principal Opposition party. Whether the aftermath of the boycott will bring any better behaviour remains to be seen.

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