Of Democratic Outreach
   Date :29-Jun-2019

 
 
By Vijay phanshikar
Mrs. Sitharaman’s visit to Dr. Manmohan Singh appeared to be an integral part of the bigger effort mounted by the NDA to seek a greater collaboration with the Opposition to sort out national issues amicably.
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Thursday, met former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence ahead of presenting her maiden Budget on July 5. Singh, known as the architect of economic reforms, was also the Finance Minister of the country from 1991 to 1996 in the then Narasimha Rao Government. What transpired at the meeting is not known, but coming ahead of the first Union Budget of the new Government to be presented by Sitharaman, it is understood to have centered around the economy. There was no official statement on the meeting which is seen as a courtesy call. ...
 
 
EVEN courtesy calls at such a high level have special meaning. For, a Union Finance Minister does not go visiting a former Prime Minister and also an earlier occupant of the ministry in the pre-Budget rush of work just for courtesy. When every minute is precious, such a meeting cannot take place without purpose. Obviously, the effort of Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman seemed to seek the Opposition’s cooperation in ensuring a proper passage of the Budget in Parliament. Without doubt, Mrs. Sitharaman did not waste her breath in mere pleasantries, and utilised the time to explain to Dr. Manmohan Singh the logic and philosophy that would reflect in the Budget. Of course, it may be preposterous to expect the Congress party to mellow its opposition to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s Government just because Mrs. Sitharaman called on Dr. Manmohan Singh. Yet, it is heartening to know that the Finance Minister seeks such a meeting, indicating the Government’s belief in a collaborative democracy about which the Prime Minister and his colleagues have been talking insistently since his election to the second term.
 
 
The very statement of the Prime Minister, in effect, that the Opposition must not be under the pressure of its small number in Parliament and must speak up its concerns, explains the nature of approach the Government is adopting to improve the functioning of the Parliament. In speech after speech, Members of Parliament belonging to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in both Houses have appealed to the good sense of the Opposition during the debate on Motion of Thanks to President for his inaugural address to the 17th Lok Sabha. All the ruling alliance members have urged the Opposition to avoid opposing the Government for the sake of opposition. They have appealed to the Opposition to leave aside political biases and look at the national scene open-mindedly. Mrs. Sitharaman’s visit to Dr. Manmohan Singh appeared to be an integral part of the bigger effort mounted by the NDA to seek a greater collaboration with the Opposition to sort out national issues amicably.
 
 
However, there is no palpable evidence to suggest that the Opposition would mellow down its argumentativeness and offer a collaborative hand in national interest. Right from Day One in Parliament, it has tried to insult the massive mandate the NDA has got in the recent general election, alleging fraud in the electoral process or manipulation of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Despite all that, the NDA Members of Parliament have appealed to the Opposition’s good sense to respect the democratic mandate and walk along in a collaborative venture to solve India’s problems and usher prosperity to a deserving public. The common public also feels shocked by such an obstinate approach of the Opposition even when the electorate has rejected its candidates in an unprecedented manner. They had never expected the Opposition to be so senseless.
 
 
But frankly, what is happening now in the past one month, was also the national experience for the earlier five years of Mr. Modi’s first term as Prime Minister. The Opposition tried to foist lies on public conscience, mislead the voters by dishing out theories that made no sense, and allege that the NDA was manipulating the EVMs. This cantankerousness, this obstinacy was visible to the voters who rejected the Opposition in the most authentic manner. Despite that, the Opposition does not seem to have learned the right lessons, which is so sadly visible in the speeches in Parliament. So blinded have the Opposition leaders become because of their resounding defeat that they do not seem to mind insulting the people who rejected them and making nonsensical allegations that the NDA Government is refusing to acknowledge the contributions by iconic leaders from other parties in the past. The NDA leaders responded to such allegations in their speeches point by point. But the crowning glory came when Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman visited Dr. Manmohan Singh to demonstrate to the nation what kind of respect the Government has for the gentleman. The Opposition may not even notice it, but the common public would never miss the amiability that peeps out of the photograph of the two leaders taken on the steps of Dr. Singh’s house.
 
 
This is the beauty of collaborative democracy. If the Opposition in general and the Congress party in particular realises this, a lot of good can be achieved out of the collaboration. The only prerequisite, however, for such a result, is that the Opposition must be mature and willing to let go of partisan politics for a greater depth in national discourse. One cannot get over the apprehension that the Rahul Gandhis on the Opposition benches may never realise what damage they are causing to the national cause. But then, that is their problem!