Stormy session if non-BJP parties unite
Stormy session if non-BJP parties unite
While imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh has ensured a “stormy session” of Parliament beginning next month, whether it will unite the divided Opposition will be seen in the coming days.
On Tuesday, the Congress, JD(U), AAP and the CPI attacked this decision saying it is a “murder” of democracy and federalism. They accused the Modi government of “insulting” the highest court of the country that is right now hearing the matter.
The decision would make the Opposition hostile and could compel the fence-sitters to take a clear stand inside and outside Parliament during the session next month.
While the Congress is all set to fight the battle in courts, in the legislature and take it to the people, the real issue is whether the non-BJP parties which are in power in nearly 10 states can take a convincing stand on this issue or if they would go by political considerations.
Chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav (Uttar Pradesh), Naveen Patnaik (Orissa), Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu), N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana) have not taken any stand on it so far while Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) have come out against the Centre’s decision, describing it as “disastrous” and alleging that those at the Centre are not able to tolerate the state governments of other parties. The Left parties which are in power in Tripura too have opposed it.
Although the Shiromani Akali Dal and the TDP are constituents of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, Mr Badal has been known for his opposition to Article 356 of the Constitution.
The attempts to destabilise the government in Arunachal Pradesh have already sounded the Opposition states, especially those which are refusing to toe the BJP line. While the BJD’s strategy to maintain equal distance from the BJP and the Congress in Orissa may not last long due to political pressure, the ruling SP in UP is yet to decide whether it is with the Centre or with the Opposition.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress would seek to rally all non-BJP parties on the issue in the coming Budget Session, noting that they had backed the Congress when such attempts had been made in Arunachal Pradesh in the last session. “There is an onslaught against all the Opposition-ruled states by the Union government,” Mr Azad alleged, saying, “The Constitution is being trampled upon. We will fight an all-out war. We will fight in Parliament, in court and along with people. Will tell them how democracy is being endangered.” Mr Kejriwal compared the imposition of President’s Rule to an Emergency-like condition. Outgoing Arunachal CM Nabam Tuki said they will approach the court as the matter is sub judice.
