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Vote won, trust lost: Is Govt's victory tainted?
Published on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 03:11, Updated on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 03:25 in Nation section
Tags: Vote Of Confidence, Trust Vote
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The “cash for vote” has rocked Parliament and has jolted a nation’s conscience. While an inquiry into the incident is on, the question is whether can the bribe givers and bribe takers be punished in equal measure.
Importantly, do the accusations made by three MPs of the BJP - with wads of notes in their hands claiming they were bribed to abstain - diminish Prime Minister’s win in the crucial Vote of Confidence?
While some believe the margin of victory prove the win is decisive, others say the vote is a reflection on the deep-set rot in Indian polity.
To debate the matter on Face the Nation were Rajya Sabha MP and and Editor-in-Chief of The Pioneer Chandan Mitra; author and senior journalist B G Verghese and senior lawyer Harish Salve.
A straw poll conducted among the panelists in the beginning of the show indicated a sharp division of thought. Following were the responses when the panelists were asked if Manmohan had won a tainted vote:
Verghese: No. He has just won.
Mitra: It’s is resoundingly and completely tainted
Salve: can’t say.
Mitra laid out his case, justifying his reasons to believe Manmohan Singh cast a tainted vote. “Had the MPs voted according to the whips issued by their parties, UPA would have lost the vote 277 to 261 – a clear victory for the Opposition. Instead, by bribing MPs with allurements of all kinds, it is proved that it was the suitcases and deep pockets that decided the outcome,” he said.
However, Verghese was adamant and maintained the vote was a “straightforward” one. He argued the BJP was being judgemental like they had been by claiming that Manmohan Singh-led government was in a minority. “We do not know who offered money to whom for what purpose. The Speaker says he will inquire into the matter, why should it be prejudged by BJP? Now that the vote has gone against them, they say it’s tainted,” he said, saying it was important to place the trust in Speaker.
However, the fact remains that Parliament was shamed and shocked when the three BJP MPs flashed wads of currency notes, claiming attempts to be bribed. The fact that Speaker has initiated an inquiry shows there’s a lot to be worried about.
Verghese said if the Speaker’s inquiry proved the three MPs were guilty, three votes should be subtracted. But to generalise and say all MPs were bribed would be absurd.
Salve said it was about time India moved away from the lynch mob mentality. “Three MPs dumping ugly currency notes on table of Parliament and saying it was a proof seemed enough to pronounce the PM guilty. It’s a serious wound on Indian democracy that no political party called for a judicial inquiry into the matter,” he said.
Salve also said that while parties like BJP expelled members, they did not lodge a legal complaint or try to find out if the erring MPs had committed any illegality – a reflection on the indifference towards serious issues.
All eyes are clearly now on the Speaker who will inquire into the matter and decide the course of action. But what could be his options? He could call for a judicial inquiry or initiate criminal proceedings.
Salve said the right way should have been for the Opposition to call for it or for the Government to offer but that would have been too idealistic. “What’s happening to the rule of law? After the assassination of democracy, the least we should have asked for was a thorough inquiry. If they are true, they are extremely serious; if they are false, it’s extremely serious again,” he said.
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