The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– Mar 19, 2023; Day 413

House matters: On the logjam (a difficult situation in which you cannot make progress easily because there are too many things to do) in Parliament

The government should not avoid a debate on issues of governance

The second leg of the Budget session of Parliament is in a deadlock (A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible). The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologise for remarks that he made in London recently about democratic backsliding (A failure to maintain a higher state) in India; the Congress is insisting on the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations (a formal accusation against somebody (often in a court of law)) of dubious financial transactions and dishonest business practices against the Adani Group of companies. Available evidence suggests that Mr. Gandhi had categorically stated that the challenges to Indian democracy had to be sorted out (resolve a problem or difficulty) domestically, and ruled out any role for foreign forces. With the Indian diaspora (the movement of people away from their own country) expanding, the ripple effects (The effect of an event setting off other events in an unexpected way, or in unexpected areas) of politics in India are inevitable (An unavoidable event) beyond the country’s geographical boundaries. In fact, the BJP has for long (for a long time) believed in cultural nationalism which is not contained within the geography of India. Mr. Modi has discussed national politics before audiences around the world. A democracy that does not allow criticism, including of democracy itself, is a contradiction in terms. Mr. Gandhi has not been able to speak in Parliament and explain his remarks; meanwhile, a BJP Member has initiated a process to terminate Mr. Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership. It is an ill-advised move, and if carried out, will further amplify (Increase in size, volume or significance) the fears of a democratic deficit in India.

In their clamour (Loud and persistent outcry from many people) for an apology by Mr. Gandhi, BJP Ministers are also evading (Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)) questions regarding government patronage of the Adani Group. The Congress has been seeking answers from the government on the links between the public sector Life Insurance Corporation of India and the State Bank of India with the Adani Group. The BJP and the government have been silent on this serious issue of governance that spans (To cover or extend over an area or time period) the government and the public and private sectors. Arbitrariness (not seeming to be based on a reason, system or plan and sometimes seeming unfair) in decision making, followed by a lack of accountability, amounts to governance failure, if not collusion (Secret agreement). The government, the Rajya Sabha chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker should work with the Opposition for a discussion on the issues arising out of the Adani controversy. Coming clean is essential in maintaining the government’s credibility, the regulatory environment and the private sector. There have been precedents of a JPC in cases of financial scandals. The BJP has the numbers to get away with any disregard for parliamentary norms, but it should rise above that temptation and evolve as a true party of governance. Parliament has a role to play in fixing accountability, and the BJP should not avoid it and betray (Reveal unintentionally) a new level of executive impunity (Exemption from punishment or loss).

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