People's Democracy

THE week ending December 14 witnessed a series of adjournments of both the houses for four days, followed by the last one on Friday to mourn the death of Parliament House security personnel in the terrorist attack. The latter was a sort of history. Never before had the country witnessed any such attack on Parliament House.

Shocked to the core, the people are wondering if the country is safe in this government’s hands. Home minister L K Advani said the regime had the information that terrorists might attack the Parliament House. Then, why did it take no steps to foil the attempt? This is all the more confusing. Did it want such a situation to develop so as to capitalise on it, as it did with the Kargil intrusion? The government cannot take the plea of lack of a stringent law against terrorism. The dreaded POTO is already in force.

The question the opposition is asking is: Is it a coincidence that such an incidence takes place when an anti-BJP sweeps the country? Earlier it was Kargil in 1999, and now the hub of Indian democracy has been attacked precisely when a coffin scam was rocking the country. Now, to cover up its misdeeds, the main ruling party is resorting to the only trick it knows: to raise jingoistic feelings against Pakistan. Do they hope that a war against Pakistan will help them win the UP elections?

It was only on December 10 that the two houses could have a full sitting. The day witnessed a furore in Lok Sabha on the Ayodhya issue, with the opposition insisting on an explanation on the conduct of five central ministers who attended a secret meeting with VHP leaders. The house was adjourned till lunch.

In Rajya Sabha on the day, the CPI(M)’s Nilotpal Basu drew the attention of the house to the CAG report and said there was a clear-cut manipulation in regard to the hand-held thermal imaging devices that were purchased from an Israeli company. In the transaction, there was a clear loss of Rs 22 crore; over and above that, a sum of Rs 9 crore had earlier been paid to the Israeli company for technology transfer to the Bharat Electronics Ltd. Also, the schedule for delivery was such that the entire need of the equipment could have been met by Bharat Electronics.

Subsequently, it was known that the Sajem of France is the best manufacturer for Krasnopol, a partially-guided ammunition, but it was pushed out of the shortlist and the equipment was not purchased from it though the army had earlier found that its equipment was best suited for the Kargil terrain. It means there was manipulation in the purchases, and lends credence to what was revealed by the Tehelka tapes. The CAG has now confirmed the entire fraud. Basu demanded that the government must explain the facts and come out with a comprehensive statement.

On December 11, both the houses plunged into turmoil as the opposition members blasted the government over the coffin issue. The opposition members in Lok Sabha raised the slogan Kafan Choro, Gaddi Chhodo! and who squatted in the well of the house. Advani’s attempt to introduce the Prevention of Terrorism Bill added fuel to the fire. The infuriated members stalled the introduction and the speaker adjourned the house.

In Rajya Sabha, the belligerent opposition demanded the resignation of defence minister, George Fernandes, and blocked any other issue from being raised. The house was adjourned for the day.

Next day, both the houses were again stalled on the coffin issue. On December 13, the parliament was again adjourned abruptly before a suicide squad stormed the Parliament House.

On December 10, the Lok Sabha passed the budget for Manipur, now under president’s rule. Bajuban Riyan, CPI(M), said the proposed deficit is about Rs 382.86 crore and there is little possibility of taking up any developmental works in the state. There is no industry in Manipur that depends on agriculture and horticulture. Manipur needs industry, food processing industry in particular, to boost horticultural production. Due to lack of marketing facilities, the producers are not getting remunerative prices for their produce. Manipur Land Reforms and Land Revenue Act should be amended, Riyan demanded.

Then the house held a discussion on the fourth ministerial conference of WTO at Doha. Initiating the discussion, Rupchand Pal, CPI(M), said the outcome of the meet was a great setback for the developing countries whose concerns were thoroughly ignored. The US and its allies pushed through a new agenda. India succumbed to the pressure of the developed countries. Refuting the commerce minister’s claim about the TRIPS agreement and public health, Pal said it was no major gain. The third world countries had made certain demands and proposals, including a demand for change in the methodology of the decision making process. But it was not agreed to. India is not even allowed to supply necessary medicines to the least developed and developing countries. No major implementation issue was taken up for consideration. Rather they have been postponed till a new round of negotiations.

Why had we to surrender? Pal asked. Because we suffer from a grand isolation. We had hardly any strategy. No negotiating style has been developed. This needs introspection. India had earlier been leading the non-aligned and third world countries. But after the BJP-led government came to power, we have lost our leadership and have surrendered to the pressure of the US and its allies. This government is so emasculated that it won’t even protest if there is pressure on it to agree on the Singapore issues like investment, competition, etc. But the Singapore issues are vital to our sovereignty, Pal reminded. In the name of eco-friendly products, our own products will be debarred from entering their markets. Pal asked how the government proposed to deal with the situation.

Earlier in a discussion in Rajya Sabha, the CPI(M)’s S Ramachandran Pillai said the government of India has lifted the quantitative restrictions on agricultural imports and reduced the customs duties. The agreement was that the developed countries would reduce their subsidies. But in fact they have increased the subsidies. Because of import of such heavily subsidised products, the prices of our crops have crashed. Our peasants, agricultural workers and common men are suffering. We complied with the conditions, but they have not. They are keeping their duties high and restricting the imports from developing countries. Hence our interest in the implementation issues. But these issues have been linked with a new round of work programme. That is a trap, Pillai warned. If we are not aware, they will put restrictions on us, and the MNCs will dictate terms.

Pillai said we have failed to substantially address the problem of inadequacies in the decision-making process of the WTO. We must have a realistic assessment of the 1994 agreement and the WTO’s working. We need to mobilise the developing countries and fight for our common interests. This is intimately connected with our foreign policy positions, Pillai reminded. To an extent our nuclear tests have made the developing countries suspicious about us. We have to regain their confidence so as to evolve a consensus vis-a-vis the developed countries.

Regarding domestic policies, Pillai demanded restoration of and increase in agricultural subsidies in order to increase productivity and production. Tariff rates must be increased to protect our domestic market, he added.