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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is having a rough time in this budget session of Parliament with the Opposition blocking key legislations for the government in the Upper House, even as the Allies express worry about controversial legislations, and the RSS makes its anger over developments in Jammu and Kashmir felt.
The Opposition in Parliament has come of age with unity and strategy being the twin weapons being used to successfully push Prime Minister Narendra and Modi in the dock on the Land Acquisition Bill and Jammu and Kashmir. Efforts to break the unity by PM Modi have not succeeded with all political parties, including the Samajwadi party and the Trinamool Congress, resisting efforts to separate them from the opposition ranks on key issues.
The government is keen to pass the controversial Ordinances that it has introduced as Bills now in the Lok Sabha amidst protest--- Land Acquisition, Coal, Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, Insurance---and bring these for the approval of the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition that is in a majority in the Upper House has been opposing these Bills vociferously are determined to send these to the select committee before being introduced so that the joint parliament session option cannot be exercised by the government.
In the process, after a long time, the rules determining the conduct of business in the Rajya Sabha are being discussed at length with a battle of wits between the government and the opposition leaders. The unity visible amongst the opposition is unprecedented with arch enemies on the ground, such as the Left and the CPI(M), speaking in unison in Parliament.
PM Modi is also facing antagonism from his allies such as the Shiv Sena that does not lose an opportunity to take pot shots at him and the government; as well as the Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam over the controversial Land Acquisition Bill. The Shiv Sena in particular has been openly critical of the BJP, with the land issue figuring prominently in its jibes against the central government.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh that has always been divided in its support for the PM, and more so BJP president Amit Shah, also summoned the latter for a over seven hour meeting to discuss the controversial issues, including the coalition government and its compulsions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Aware of the adverse reaction, the PM is feeling the pressure and has been working to what senior CPM leader Mohammad Saleem said, “break the opposition unity.” PM Modi travelled to Baramati to attend a function organised by Nationalist Congress party leader Sharad Pawar with stories of the apparent bonhomie flooding the local and national media. This was in early February after which he went to attend a ceremony organised by Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, where they all broke bread and posed for the cameras. More recently he has had West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee call on him, and such was the importance attached to this visit, that senior ministers like Arun Jaitley lined up to receive her. Her favourite MP Derek O Brien who has been active in leading the charge against the government in Parliament, and had once called the PM “butcher of Gujarat” was reportedly referred kindly to by the Prime Minister in a signal that he was willing to let bygones be.
However, so far these tactics have not worked and currently the Opposition remains united to block the Bills by ensuring these are sent to a select committee before being introduced in the Rajya Sabha. So the question of the Upper House rejecting these does not arise, and the government is left without a reason to approach the President for a joint session to clear these Bills.
However, in the process the government has acquired a pro-corporate image that has clearly worried its allies as well as the RSS. PM Modi so far seems determined not to back off or dilute this position, but given the hard hitting attack on the government in Parliament his position has weakened to a point where the allies are openly dissenting.
Media reports suggest that BJP chief Amit Shah was virtually summoned by the RSS and in a marathon session given a dressing down for all his acts of omission and commission. The defeat in Delhi figured in the talks, again according to the reports that have not been denied, with the RSS leaders particularly agitated about the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. The release of hardliner Masarat Alam, as well as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeeds comments on Pakistan, and the letter signed by coalition partner legislators for the return of the mortal remains of Afzal Guru, have all come as a jolt to the RSS. The state unit of the BJP is not particularly happy with the situation either, it is learnt.
