With an upbeat Opposition raring to corner the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government in Parliament, the ruling dispensation has set aside the first two days of the upcoming Winter Session to commemorate Constitution Day in an apparent attempt to ward off an anticipated onslaught.
Still to recover from the humiliating defeat in the recent Bihar assembly election, BJP strategists have decided to start the Winter Session on November 26 with a discussion on the Constitution, ostensibly to pay homage to the document's founding father Babasaheb Ambedkar, as part of year-long programme to observe his 125th birth anniversary.
This is the first time that a special sitting of Parliament has been called to commemorate the day that the Constitution was adopted in 1949, before coming into effect on January 26, 1950. According to insiders in Parliament, special sittings have been called in the past to mark specific milestones like 50 years of India’s independence or 60 years of Rajya Sabha. But there has never been any special discussion or session to mark Constitution Day.
Strategic endeavour
The purpose of this exercise is manifold. Firstly, it will serve to dilute the ensuing debate on rising intolerance by appropriating Babasaheb’s legacy to win brownie points with Dalits after the Bihar elections.
In addition, the discussion will also provide a forum to the government to underline its commitment to upholding the values enshrined in the Constitution.
Another benefit is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is under pressure to respond to criticism on the prevailing climate of intolerance in the country, will get a chance to address the issue without the impression of it being prompted by Opposition pressure.
Above all, the opposition will be forced to attend the session. It cannot afford to boycott a discussion on the framing of the Constitution also billed as a tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar. The government’s floor managers believe a smooth discussion on the opening days of the session will break the rhythm of the opposition parties, which will find it difficult to disturb or boycott the proceedings subsequently.
Equally prepared
However, the government’s ploy to begin the session with a sanitised discussion could well backfire. Opposition parties are well aware that the two-day discussion is aimed at throwing them off-track. The Opposition plans to turn the tables on the government and use this opportunity to put the ruling BJP in the dock for its failure to uphold the Constitution with its intolerant attitude to dissent and free speech. Opposition leaders said that the two-day discussion will set the tone for the rest of the session.
“If the government believes it will not be answerable on the issue of intolerance, it is mistaken,” said D Raja, a Rajya Sabha member from the Communist Party of India.
The Opposition is determined to corner the ruling alliance on the overriding theme of intolerance.
“Debating the Constitution is always welcome. But for a government which has torn apart the fundamentals of the Constitution, the proposed discussion seems incongruous,” said Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, a Rajya Sabha member. Kumar said the government will have to account for whether it has lived up to the liberal and secular ideals of the Constitution.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress have already submitted notices in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on the issue of “unity in diversity and operational federalism” as well as “growing intolerance in the country.”
The Left parties and the Trinamool will be particularly strident on this issue in view of the next year’s assembly polls in West Bengal. Having successfully routed the BJP in Bihar, the Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are equally eager to demand answers from the government.
Single target
The Congress offensive will specifically target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be asked to explain what action he plans to take against his party leaders for speaking out of turn and making hate speeches.
Although the Congress is under pressure to allow the session to function smoothly, its party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is seemingly in no mood to relent. The grand old party had united the Opposition on the land acquisition bill earlier this year, which eventually forced the Modi government to backtrack on the contentious legislation. And now the Opposition has come together on the issue of “intolerance”.
On its part, the government will have to make a special effort to reach out to its political opponents if it wants to push through its legislative agenda, especially the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The Congress has constantly complained that the government has been riding roughshod over the Opposition and has been unwilling to accommodate its concerns.
“This government does not believe in engaging with the Opposition….if it persists with this attitude, we will have no choice but to continue with our aggressive stand,” said a senior Congress leader close to Rahul Gandhi.
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Still to recover from the humiliating defeat in the recent Bihar assembly election, BJP strategists have decided to start the Winter Session on November 26 with a discussion on the Constitution, ostensibly to pay homage to the document's founding father Babasaheb Ambedkar, as part of year-long programme to observe his 125th birth anniversary.
This is the first time that a special sitting of Parliament has been called to commemorate the day that the Constitution was adopted in 1949, before coming into effect on January 26, 1950. According to insiders in Parliament, special sittings have been called in the past to mark specific milestones like 50 years of India’s independence or 60 years of Rajya Sabha. But there has never been any special discussion or session to mark Constitution Day.
Strategic endeavour
The purpose of this exercise is manifold. Firstly, it will serve to dilute the ensuing debate on rising intolerance by appropriating Babasaheb’s legacy to win brownie points with Dalits after the Bihar elections.
In addition, the discussion will also provide a forum to the government to underline its commitment to upholding the values enshrined in the Constitution.
Another benefit is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is under pressure to respond to criticism on the prevailing climate of intolerance in the country, will get a chance to address the issue without the impression of it being prompted by Opposition pressure.
Above all, the opposition will be forced to attend the session. It cannot afford to boycott a discussion on the framing of the Constitution also billed as a tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar. The government’s floor managers believe a smooth discussion on the opening days of the session will break the rhythm of the opposition parties, which will find it difficult to disturb or boycott the proceedings subsequently.
Equally prepared
However, the government’s ploy to begin the session with a sanitised discussion could well backfire. Opposition parties are well aware that the two-day discussion is aimed at throwing them off-track. The Opposition plans to turn the tables on the government and use this opportunity to put the ruling BJP in the dock for its failure to uphold the Constitution with its intolerant attitude to dissent and free speech. Opposition leaders said that the two-day discussion will set the tone for the rest of the session.
“If the government believes it will not be answerable on the issue of intolerance, it is mistaken,” said D Raja, a Rajya Sabha member from the Communist Party of India.
The Opposition is determined to corner the ruling alliance on the overriding theme of intolerance.
“Debating the Constitution is always welcome. But for a government which has torn apart the fundamentals of the Constitution, the proposed discussion seems incongruous,” said Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, a Rajya Sabha member. Kumar said the government will have to account for whether it has lived up to the liberal and secular ideals of the Constitution.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress have already submitted notices in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on the issue of “unity in diversity and operational federalism” as well as “growing intolerance in the country.”
The Left parties and the Trinamool will be particularly strident on this issue in view of the next year’s assembly polls in West Bengal. Having successfully routed the BJP in Bihar, the Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are equally eager to demand answers from the government.
Single target
The Congress offensive will specifically target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be asked to explain what action he plans to take against his party leaders for speaking out of turn and making hate speeches.
Although the Congress is under pressure to allow the session to function smoothly, its party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is seemingly in no mood to relent. The grand old party had united the Opposition on the land acquisition bill earlier this year, which eventually forced the Modi government to backtrack on the contentious legislation. And now the Opposition has come together on the issue of “intolerance”.
On its part, the government will have to make a special effort to reach out to its political opponents if it wants to push through its legislative agenda, especially the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The Congress has constantly complained that the government has been riding roughshod over the Opposition and has been unwilling to accommodate its concerns.
“This government does not believe in engaging with the Opposition….if it persists with this attitude, we will have no choice but to continue with our aggressive stand,” said a senior Congress leader close to Rahul Gandhi.