Political Diary

New Delhi, 28 September 2013

Rahul’s Ordinance

MAKING “NONSENSE” OF PM

By Poonam I Kaushish

Eminence grise, the power behind the throne which remote-controls its puppets, pulling the strings whenever he wants. This adage rang true last week when Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi did the unthinkable: Slammed his Prime Minister that too publicly and turning all established norms on their head. Underscoring as never before that power is a one way street. All roads lead to 12 Tughlaq Lane and 10 Janpath.

The genesis of Rahul’s outburst at his impromptu media meet Friday last has its roots in the ill-fated Ordinance to negate the July Supreme Court judgment that struck down a provision in the electoral law which allowed a convicted MP and MLA to continue in their post if they make an appeal to a higher court within three months. Said he, “In my opinion the ordinance is complete nonsense it should be torn up and thrown away.”

Big deal if he stepped on toes, all was well as long as Rahul succeeded in projecting himself as the outsider trying to rectify the Congress blemishes. Added he, “In my organization I am told we need to do this because of political considerations. Everybody is doing this. The Congress, BJP, Samajwadi, JD(U) does this.....if we make these small compromises, then we compromise everywhere.”

Predictably, all hell broke lose. Congress Ministers and senior leaders went incommunicado as a harried Congress spokesperson embarrassedly said, “Rahul’s view is now the Congress thinking”. No matter he had trashed voices of dissent against the ordinance earlier.  Also left unexplained were crucial questions, one, why Rahul did not speak when the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha? Two, why he was silent when mother Sonia chaired the Congress Core Committee meeting which endorsed the ordinance on 21 September.

It stands to reason that his bolt-out-of-blue was an exercise in damage control following President Pranab Mukherjee’s summoning three Ministers, Home Sushil Shinde, Law Kapil Sibal and Parliamentary Affairs Kamal Nath and raised questions over the ordinance devoid of political consensus and there was no earth-shaking hurry as a Bill was already pending before Parliament.

Neither does it need rocket science to understand the “considerations” which guided Sonia’s core committee to hoot for the ordinance mainly to save RJD Chief Laloo Yadav who is vital for countering NaMo’s onslaught in Bihar. Towards that end Her Masters Voice Prime Minister acquiesced.

True, at one level Rahul’s anger smacks of frustration against his Government functioning. Reminiscent of his father Rajiv style when he sacked his Foreign Secretary Venkateswaran at a press conference in 1987. But therein lies the difference. While the late Prime Minister had summarily dismissed a senior Establishment officer, his son has not only mocked the Prime Minister when he was abroad, worse torn asunder the institution of the Prime Minister and showcased its downfall, warts, blackheads et al. Notwithstanding the apologies and spin doctors. All lame excuses to side step the crux of the issue: power, prestige and dignity of the PM’s office.

The issue is not whether Manmohan Singh honourably resigns or continues to hold on to his Rajgaddi. In all likelihood he will continue unperturbed as if nothing untoward has happened. Given the fact that for the last ten years he has made no bones about playing second fiddle to Sonia Gandhi.

Plainly, the PM is not anybody but is the head of the executive body of the nation. He symbolizes the power of the nation. It is his business to rule the country with the support of the Council of Ministers.  He is the numero uno in a Cabinet. Tragically however Manmohan Singh has another super power behind his throne that calls the shots. None care two hoots for Constitutional basics and niceties. As the Father of the Constitution Ambedkar observed: “The PM is really the keystone of the arch of the Cabinet.”

Alas, over the years every Minister seems to have given the Prime Minister a go-by. As if he is non-existent. Most often than not, Manmohan Singh remains silent. Nor has he been visible or exercised his authority as the head of Government. How can he? Even he has to bow before the Lady of 10 Janpath and now Rahul.

From policy making down to crucial appointments. Each decision has Sonia-Rahul stamped all over it. The Congress quotient in Manmohan’s Cabinet is hand-picked by mother-son. Dynasty loyalists are rewarded with key portfolios. Whatever happened to the PM’s prerogative? Pat comes the reply: Manmohan is Madam’s and her son’s man.

Not only that. More and more among the anybodies and the busy bodies are now making a beeline for the Congress’s No 1 and 2. Senior officials vie with each other to make so-called courtesy calls on them. Congressmen and Ministers invariably queue outside their doors.

Sadly, the Congress-led has junked Article 75 (1) of the Constitution which underscores the importance of the Prime Ministers Office. It states: “The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister”.

Why? As highlighted during the Constituent Assembly debate, this Clause was considered necessary to ensure that no Minister kept a separate circle of his own personal influence in the House. If the Ministers were to have such sort of relationships with the Members, the Cabinet would be open to all sorts of corruption because no one could keep a number of members always ready to back him as his pocket borough, without appeasing them.

In the final analysis, the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister is paramount for our democracy. Any slur, slight and disrespect to this institution would deal a body blow to the credibility and authority of the State. Remember, it is institutions not people that make a nation great. We may disagree, criticize, run down policies even demand a change of Prime Minister but none ever desecrates the Prime Minister’s dignity. It’s a strict no no. The UPA needs to heed before any further damage is done to this great office. Especially our dynasty struck Congressmen. It would be the greatest disservice to India and a blot which could take years to erase.

It is time for all of them and Sonia herself to heed Lord Ram’s advice to Sita when he went to bid “goodbye” to her before leaving for the forest, thinking she would stay back in Ayodhya, He specifically advised her to “respect authority” and accordingly, respect Bharat, the new King, though he himself as a great hero and legitimate inheritor of the crown, could have easily ignored him.

He also told the people of Ayodhya that they should treat Bharat with the same respect and love they had shown him.” In two words Ram wanted all to “respect authority.” Is that asking too much today from Sonia and her loyalists? -------INFA

(Copyright India News & Feature Alliance)