BJP spiked govt attempt to counter activists' uprising

The support of BJP for the Bill forced the government to drop the idea of calling an all-party meeting on the issue.

While it had bailed out the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) during the introduction of the pension fund reforms Bill in Parliament three weeks ago, the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spiked a government effort to build a counter political move to emphasise on the elected democratic set-up of the country in the backdrop of the Anna Hazare-led civil society movement.

While Union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal led negotiations with Hazare’s group on the Jan Lokpal Bill, another section of the Congress was interacting with various parties to call an all-party meeting for today to discuss the importance and future of the parliamentary system of democratic functioning against the “onslaught” of the civil society movement.

However, with the BJP and Left parties not ready to come in its defence, the Congress finally decided to drop its ambitious plan. “We had made all arrangements to hold a meeting to raise the issue of the supremacy of the parliamentary democracy and how to tackle the civil society. But the meeting would have yielded no result as the BJP and the Left told us they support Anna Hazare,” said a senior UPA minister.

The government had managed the support of three Yadav leaders — Samajwadi Party’s Mulayam Singh Yadav, Janata Dal(United) president Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad — on this issue. All three leaders categorically told the government that while they supported weeding out corruption as demanded by Anna Hazare, they were against the “pressure tactics” of the civil society movement makers.

The government managers had initially planned to hold an all-party meeting and, in fact, requested many leaders to remain present in Delhi on Sunday. However, when senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj was contacted by government managers she made the UPA take a U-turn. Swaraj clearly told the Congress leadership that the BJP supported the Anna Hazare movement and would not join the government.

Top government managers believe the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the guiding organisation of the BJP, also has support for Hazare.

The CPI(M), too, was contacted by the government managers. Its Politburo member Sitaram Yechury, regarded as the main bridge between the government and the Left, also told the government they had full support for Hazare’s demands.

When Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Miinister Manmohan Singh were briefed about the position of various political parties, they decided against making any move. “It was pure emotional blackmailing. But we succumbed under the pressure as, major Opposition parties took their side,” said a minister.