Co-operating in democratic spirit

We have the long-awaited happy news that reforms are back on track after over a decade. Main opposition Congress will co-operate with the government on a range of legislations, among them, the insurance and the coal and mines bills. The Congress has agreed to support passage of the insurance bill in the RS which seeks to raise the FDI cap from the existing 26 to 49 percent – a part of its own reforms agenda. And once that happens, most of the other opposition groups may fall in line. This may result in an end to the logjam on other legislations as well in the Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have the required numbers.

Both must share the credit, the government for reaching out to the opposition and the latter, agreeing to support the bills. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu attributed the breakthrough to "cooperation" from opposition parties. But there are indications that this was facilitated by waning resistance from regional parties like Biju Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress, the Anna DMK, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj party, who occupy the non-aligned political space. Both Trinamool and BJD favour early passage of coal mines bill, since many of the mines are in their areas, while SP, BSP and JD(U) backed the idea that fixed timelines were assigned to the two select committees.

The latter development is an indication that our lawmakers, although vociferous and combative in the two Houses, work quietly in parliamentary committees. This is not new, but that it would impact the overall working of Parliament, making it less acrimonious and more conscious of the responsibilities to enact laws, is something that must be welcomed.

Congress, it would seem, is taking the lead. Senior leader Digvijay Singh has urged at the party’s parliamentary forums that it should support bills that have been cleared by the select committees. The government, sensing favourable mood, has pushed for a time-line of March 18. Digvijay argued the party need not be seen as being totally and perennially in opposition to whatever the government does. Also, that it would appear downright cynical if it opposed even those bills that it had agreed or moved in the past.

Two cheers for this development. The Congress is thankfully doing something that it had faced for a decade from the BJP. It had been a loud and clear, but unwritten policy of the BJP, then the main opposition, to oppose just every government move. Even thanking the President’s Address to Parliament used to have difficult and acrimonious passage.

The third cheer is held back to see if the Congress will actually not pay back in the same coin and delay the reforms agenda that it so proudly claims it pioneered through the early 1990s, the era of PV. Indeed, the reforms continued, although at their own pace, but despite the sanctions imposed as a result of the nuclear tests, during the Vajpayee era, gives some hope that our lawmakers are, after all, capable of thinking and working together.

Passage of the Land Bill in the Rajya Sabha remains a concern. But the government has been tough, ready to re-promulgate the ordinances on this. Many parties are pulling in different directions on its provisions, but must put their heads together – not just their hearts – to see it through.

Just a thought – did the Congress have to get depleted to a meager 44 in the LS to think out-of-the-box and extend the hand of cooperation. And does the BJP realise, eschewing a bit of its triumphalist approach on political issues that it could have hastened reforms by cooperating with the past UPA government?

After all, are there basic differences between the UPA approach to FDI, insurance and other reforms and the civil nuclear agenda for which so much was put at stake in 2008? Recalling this is to remind the two parties that it needs two hands to clap and the nation is awaiting that.

By: Mahendra Ved