BJP puts govt on the mat

All deals with the govt off, says Yashwant Sinha; House panel rules coal block allocations since 1993 illegal; CAG raps Centre, states over corruption in NREGS

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government lurched from one set of problems to another, as the Opposition sought the resignation of the prime minister for his alleged role in the coal block allocation scam after the report of Parliament’s standing committee ruled all allocations after 1993 “illegal”.  To his complicity in the process of 2G spectrum allocation was added his failure to address corruption in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which got a scathing indictment from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a report released today.

In a formal resolution, the Parliamentary party of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought the PM’s resignation. “Let them (the Opposition) ask” was the terse comment from Congress President Sonia Gandhi, when the Opposition demand was played back to her.

Former finance minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha indicated the thinking within the principal Opposition party when he declared: “All deals with this government are off.” Party President Rajnath singh repeated his advice to the prime minister: “Step down.”

The meetings of the core group, which has the representatives of the government and the Congress as members, are usually held on Thursdays. But one had to be called today after Parliamentary impasse led to adjournment of the two Houses amid slogan shouting and disruption, causing loss of a precious day ahead of a public holiday tomorrow.

Besides the JPC report on the 2G allocation scam, the Opposition also raised the issue of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar allegedly ‘helping’ the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its status report on the allocation of coal blocks. The Congress, however, denied BJP’s allegation that Kumar’s interference was to cover up the prime minister’s culpability. Spokesperson P C Chacko said: “The Opposition is in the habit of demanding resignations. Manmohan Singh’s credibility is beyond question.”

The stalling of the proceedings for a second day spelt trouble for the government, keen to get key financial legislation passed in Parliament. Chacko said: “As long as no party is interested in passing a no-confidence motion against the government, they should assist us in passing the finance Bills.”

Such an abject political argument only strengthened the National Democratic Alliance’s resolve to ratchet up pressure on the government. The only moderating influence came from Janata Dal (United). Its leader, Sharad Yadav, said his party was not for disruption of Parliament. JD(U)’s new tune, at variance with BJP’s, was noted by everyone.

The food security Bill and the land acquisition Bill are the other two pieces of legislation the government wants to move. However, despite being in agreement with many of the provisions in these Bills, Yashwant Sinha made it clear the Opposition would not help the government pass any Bill.

Strategy sessions over how to get the Opposition around are on within the government. But consensus-maker Pranab Mukherjee, it seems, is being badly missed.

Things are likely to get worse for the government in the days to come. On Thursday, the day Parliament reconvenes, CBI is to place its affidavit before the Supreme Court. Also, the ‘diversions’ in NREGS, the UPA government’s signature scheme, are likely to be the target of the Opposition.