Vote won, trust lost: Is Govt's victory tainted?

STING IS KING? BJP MPs flash wads of currency notes in Parliament, claim they were bribed by SP.

        

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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.

Is the vote tainted due to the politics involved?

The Congress has roped in JMM chief Shibu Soren – arguably one of the most controversial politicians of recent times – and MPs with criminal backgrounds have been brought in to create convenient political affiliations. Verghese did not think jailbirds voting could be considered a taint. “The fact that they are voting is part of the law of the land. Unless you changed the law, they are entitled to vote. And you can’t change the rules in the middle of the game (vote),” he said.

Mitra said Verghese’s argument was painful. He said it was surprising that Salve, who always stood for morality in journalism, had taken such a legal stand on the issue. “The fact that so many MPs who are members of the party decided to go against it and that Soren was brought back shows there’s something wrong,” he argued.

Salve responded to the argument and said two wrongs – and in this case multiple wrongs - do not make it right. “We as citizens are horrified. The criminal justice system in India is in disrepair so these people do all these things. Hasn’t yesterday’s ugly spectacle shaken anyone out of their roots?” he questioned.

The debate concluded with another straw poll: Was the Trust Vote a bi-partisan one? Did Manmohan Singh Government actually pay a big price for the victory?

Verghese: It was a normal, bi-partisan vote.

Mitra: It’s a case of a defeated Parliament having bought its way to victory and it was a partisan vote procured through illegitimate means.

Salve: Yesterday’s Trust Vote was nothing about nuclear deal. It was just about who should and who should not be in Parliament.

The Web poll showed that a slender majority believed the vote was clean. Following are the results:

Has Manmohan Singh won a tainted vote?

Yes: 44 per cent

No: 56 per cent