The NDA had decided on 27th April, 2005, to stay away from Parliament for the whole of that week to protest against the Government's behavior and attitude towards the Opposition. In a parliamentary democracy, the Opposition is as much a part of the political system as the Treasury benches. From the beginning, however, the UPA Government decided to treat the Opposition as its enemy rather than as a necessary part of the parliamentary process. We had stated on 27th April that neither the norms of political conduct nor the undemocratic and petty-minded approach of this government towards the Opposition were acceptable to the NDA. Our decision not to attend Parliament was to protest against this behavior of the Government and to highlight its hostile and vindictive attitude towards the Opposition.
In the meanwhile, the Prime Minister has spoken on telephone to the Leathers of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament and to the Chairperson of the NDA. These calls have been no more than a mere formality on the part of the Prime Minister. They have failed to provide any assurance to us that there would be a change in the approach of the Government towards the Opposition. Matters remain where they were on 27th April, 2005.
The UPA Government under Dr. Manmohan Singh is setting a new and absolutely unacceptable norm of political conduct by allowing tainted ministers accused of corruption charges, to continue in the Council of Ministers Framing of charges by courts of law under the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Section 420 of the IPC against the Railway Minister does not disturb the Prime Minister. He has become so insensitive that these well-established norms of political conduct have ceased to matter to him. What matters to him the most is to save his own chair. Let Dr. Manmohan Singh himself judge whether what he is doing is morally tenable.
It is the Government's casual and confrontationist attitude towards the Opposition however, that we cannot accept under any circumstances. The Opposition has an important role to play in parliamentary democracy. We are determined to play that role. But we cannot play our role if we are continuously prevented from doing so by the Treasury benches. We cannot play our role if elements of the ruling coalition themselves disrupt Parliament on frivolous issues and force its adjournment. We cannot play our role if parliamentary norms and practices are given a go-by by the rulers themselves.
However, in order to demonstrate our commitment to our parliamentary duties, the NDA has decided to fully participate in the discussions on the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha today, as indeed we have done in all the discussions that have taken place on the Budget so far. We shall, however, continue to stay away from Rajya Sabha to protest against the Government's attitude. The Co-ordination Committee of the NDA shall meet again in the evening to review the situation.
In the meanwhile, the Prime Minister has spoken on telephone to the Leathers of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament and to the Chairperson of the NDA. These calls have been no more than a mere formality on the part of the Prime Minister. They have failed to provide any assurance to us that there would be a change in the approach of the Government towards the Opposition. Matters remain where they were on 27th April, 2005.
The UPA Government under Dr. Manmohan Singh is setting a new and absolutely unacceptable norm of political conduct by allowing tainted ministers accused of corruption charges, to continue in the Council of Ministers Framing of charges by courts of law under the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Section 420 of the IPC against the Railway Minister does not disturb the Prime Minister. He has become so insensitive that these well-established norms of political conduct have ceased to matter to him. What matters to him the most is to save his own chair. Let Dr. Manmohan Singh himself judge whether what he is doing is morally tenable.
It is the Government's casual and confrontationist attitude towards the Opposition however, that we cannot accept under any circumstances. The Opposition has an important role to play in parliamentary democracy. We are determined to play that role. But we cannot play our role if we are continuously prevented from doing so by the Treasury benches. We cannot play our role if elements of the ruling coalition themselves disrupt Parliament on frivolous issues and force its adjournment. We cannot play our role if parliamentary norms and practices are given a go-by by the rulers themselves.
However, in order to demonstrate our commitment to our parliamentary duties, the NDA has decided to fully participate in the discussions on the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha today, as indeed we have done in all the discussions that have taken place on the Budget so far. We shall, however, continue to stay away from Rajya Sabha to protest against the Government's attitude. The Co-ordination Committee of the NDA shall meet again in the evening to review the situation.
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