Whataboutery appears to be the accepted norm in Parliament, particularly by the Treasury benches, which seem determined not to give in to the Opposition demand for a full-fledged discussion on Manipur. While countrywide, the focus is on the shameful ethnic violence in the northeastern state witnessing clashes between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki tribals, the ruling dispensation has been trying to make a comparative study with highly condemnable incidents that have taken place in Opposition ruled provinces.
Manipur is burning and if the Centre does not intervene at this moment, things may get to a point of no return. It is not a time to play petty politics, but to provide relief to the people, who have been facing the worst possible violence ever.
The Opposition’s demand for a detailed discussion on what is happening is justified, and though the government has been expressing its anguish, it is shying away from an engagement with its opponents.
The demand has been for the Prime Minister to speak on the issue inside Parliament, and also re-assure the people on the steps being taken to contain the large-scale killings and rapes. What needs to be clearly understood is that it is certainly not the intention of any Member of Parliament to undermine the position of the Prime Minister. It is to seek answers to questions which have been raised in the light of the unprecedented violence.
The Meiteis are more in number and own less land in the state where the tribals despite being fewer in number have control over more land. There are multiple dimensions to the matter. There have been unsubstantiated allegations of opium cultivation and the thriving drug trafficking and gun running that is rampant in the region. Similarly, there are accusations that some powerful people want the tribals to vacate the mineral rich hills which have been their home, so that big business and corporate houses can move in for mining. There seems to be no clarity on some of these questions which have been raised, and it is for the government of the day, both in the state and at the Centre to provide the answers.
In a parliamentary democracy, the floor of the House is a forum for addressing any issue which is deemed to be of high importance. In the present context, there is nothing more paramount than Manipur. The Opposition cannot be held responsible for doing what it is doing; the late Arun Jaitley, when he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the UPA rule, justified the blocking tactics as a tool of the government’s opponents to draw attention to issues which were of vital importance.
The fact is that it is the responsibility of the ruling party to conduct business in Parliament and there needs to be a pragmatic approach to matters, that allows this to happen. It is difficult to comprehend the intention of the government when everything is stacked in its favour, from numbers to the narrative. Why is it allowing the agenda to slip away by granting the Opposition space for scoring points, if in its estimation, what has happened in Manipur can be explained adequately?
What is also worrying is that there are allegations being made against the presiding officers of the two Houses for abetting with the treasury benches. The presiding officers should always remain neutral and take decisions which are consistent with the correctness of the proceedings, and refrain from airing their personal views when attending public functions, that contribute to the atmosphere getting further vitiated.
The stalemate on Manipur has resulted in huge losses, not only financially but also in respect of the credibility of our Parliamentary system. Why is it so difficult to debate matters and get over the problem by a collective approach, which is the need of the hour? Frustrated by the continued hesitation and reluctance on part of the government to have a discussion that would allow the facts to surface, the Opposition has resorted to its last available instrument, the No Confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha.
Everyone is aware that the combined Opposition does not have the numbers to carry forward the Motion, but a No-Confidence Motion at this stage is something which should not be dismissed lightly. The entire nation shall be watching the happenings inside the House of the people, and thus public opinion on the matter, would be generated. The debate shall also focus on many facts that are unknown in the public domain.
Normally speaking, a No Confidence Motion should supersede every other activity in Lok Sabha, but rules provide the Speaker a ten-day period, to determine the date and schedule for a debate. The discussion when it takes place, could have wide ranging political ramifications for both the Treasury benches and the Opposition.
The focus should be to save Manipur and not engage in whataboutery. The members on both sides, would hopefully rise to the occasion. Between us.