Rejuvenated Congress and Debilitated BJP

"A week is a long time in politics" said Harold Wilson who was prime minister of U.K. twice. Four years is a substantially long period. It is now almost four years since India rejected UPA and particularly the Congress as unfit to govern the country.

In 2014, corruption as an issue was occupying centre-stage. BJP whipped up the issue with characteristic adroitness and the voters rewarded it handsomely. After a long time, we vested a party with majority in the Lok Sabha so that it could focus on governance without being handicapped by what Manmohan Singh spuriously called as 'coalition dharma'.

Political scenario has undergone a drastic change in the recent past. Opposition parties excluding the Congress and communists have become more upbeat in the aftermath of shock defeats of BJP candidates in Lok Sabha by-elections in U.P. and Bihar. It is true that Narendra Modi did not canvass in these by-elections. But if the overwhelming and enthusiastic support of voters as it existed in 2014 for Narendra Modi had not dissipated, these shock defeats would not have occurred.

Congress has nothing to gloat over its continuing dismal performance in elections. When disenchantment with BJP and Narendra Modi is gaining impetus, a national party like Congress should start making hay. (Some sceptics may argue that Congress is no longer a national party. This argument is a bit premature. Congress is even now salvageable.)

It is a no-brainer that Congress cannot muster majority on its own in the Lok Sabha in the near future. At best, it can be one of the parties forming a possible coalition in the centre post-2019. For this to happen, two crucial requirements must be met.

It is very likely that BJP will continue to be the largest single party in the lower house of parliament. Since BJP is an assertive party causing constant discomfort to its adversaries, opposition to BJP is virulent. Virulent splintered parties are not a threat to BJP. But a combined opposition would be, like what was seen in the recent by-elections. So the first condition is continued unity among opposition parties.

Congress continues to be treated as a liability by other parties. If Congress wants to become acceptable to other parties and more importantly to voters, it has to get rid of proven corrupt leaders forthwith. In addition, the Gandhi family must cease to dominate. Dumping corrupt leaders and non-glorification of a particular family are the second requirement.

BJP and Congress, thick as thieves

When a law is violated and a court of law confirms violation, we expect the guilty to be punished. Unfortunately, if the guilty party happens to be political entities, the government would rather amend the law and that too retrospectively, and even twice if required,  to ensure that the accused are not punished.

This is what has happened in an FCRA violation case. Please read the following report from The Hindu:

"The Union government has proposed to amend the repealed Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 1976, retrospectively, a move that will benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress held guilty by the Delhi High Court for receiving foreign funds from two subsidiaries of Vedanta, a U.K.-based company.

The Representation of the People Act and the FCRA bar political parties from receiving foreign funds.

In 2016, the government amended the FCRA through the Finance Bill route, allowing foreign-origin companies to finance non-governmental organisations and clearing the way for donations to political parties by changing the definition of “foreign companies”.

The amendment, though done retrospectively, only made valid the foreign donations received after 2010, the year when the 1976 Act was amended.

The retrospective amendment did not apply to donations prior to 2010.

Retrospective effect

In a move to extend relief to the two parties, the government has again proposed an amendment through the Finance Bill, 2018. It says, “Clause 217 of the Bill seeks to amend Section 236 of the Finance Act, 2016 which relates to amendment to sub-clause (vi) of clause (j) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 …. effect from the 5th August, 1976 the date of commencement of the FCRA, 1976, which was repealed and re-enacted as the FCRA, 2010.”

The Hindu reported on May 10, 2017 that the Home Ministry had sought the Attorney-General’s opinion to amend the repealed Act.

Original provision

The original provision in the FCRA, which declared that any company with over 50% FDI was a foreign entity, was inconsistent with the view of the Finance and the Commerce Ministries, which treated companies based in India and having Indian directors and employees as Indian subsidiaries.

The Supreme Court in November 2017 issued notice to the Centre on a plea by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a political watchdog, that challenged the amendment through the Finance Bill route.

It was on the organisation’s plea that the Delhi High Court asked the Home Ministry to initiate action against the two political parties. The offence attracted imprisonment of five years or fine or both to persons who assisted political parties to receive funds."

BJP and Congress may be adversaries in the electoral arena. But, in protecting their common interest, they are thick as thieves. The parliament will shamelessly approve this amendment cleverly hidden in the Finance Bill accompanying the Budget.

Chidambaram, victim or guilty?

It is widely made known that Karti Chidambaram has amassed assets in many countries misusing his father's ministership. This is vehemently denied by both father and son. They have gone to the extent of expressing their readiness to gift their undisclosed assets if any to the government.

CBI  therefore needs to expedite its trials and favour the public with a conclusion to this political histrionics. The corrupt need to be exposed and legally punished. It is equally important that the innocent are not harassed. The public should not be harassed by keeping the pot boiling indefinitely.

BJP is steadily losing its popularity as it is unable to fulfill its plentiful promises. Unemployment problems are intensifying. The opposition despite its lack of unity must be relishing the opportunity arising from BJP's incapacity to be equal to the promises it has made.

Unruly BJP

BJP seems to bent on proving that it is as murky as any other political party.

The Kerala State BJP President is actively involved in medical college admissions scandal.

The son of the Haryana State BJP President was stalking and attempting to kidnap a lady in Chandigarh. The state government is doing its best to protect the criminal.

In Chandigarh, a BJP leader obstructed an ambulane which led to the death of a patient.

Power has corrupted BJP pretty fast.

Sensex and corruption

The stock market has become upbeat this week. This is because the market has started recognising that the NDA government also is corrupt and therefore corporate activities meant to make unlawful gains will not be resisted by the government.

If the government exhibits its capacity to ride out the present crisis without any damage, sensex is poised to go further north. Narendra Modi's sphinx-like deportment is another bullish factor.

Indians are now saddled with the ticklish choice between corrupt Congress and bribable BJP. Sensex's sustained rise is assured.

BJP's volte-face on black money

It is shocking that Modi's government has adopted the UPA's argument regarding divulging details of black money stashed abroad. This amounts to going back on an assurance given to the public on the basis of which NDA came back to power.

BJP, hailed as a party with a difference, is only a carbon copy of the Congress party. As time rolls on, we are likely to witness scams and scandals reminiscent of UPA days. The Modi magic also has a shelf-life.

Modi's decision to continue the ailing Arun Jaitley as the cabinet minister in charge of two crucial ministries is not reflective of good governance. This is not to underestimate Jaitley's capacity or credibility both of which are high. Even a healthy person will find the combined demands of two crucial ministries to be taxing. Modi seems to be trading off principled politics for pragmatic economics. He was not voted to power for making this dubious choice.

Whither BJP ?

It may be too early to raise this question. At the same time, it is better to spot the danger signals at the earliest.

There was a theft in the house of a BJP MP, Giriraj Singh of Bihar. He was earlier a minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet. The 'Honourable' MP duly reported the theft to the police. The complaint registered with the police mentioned theft of around Rs.50,000 and some jewels.

The police caught the thief and recovered Rs. 1.20 crore apart from jewels from him allegedly stolen from MP. Let us see how the party with a difference deals with this.

Amit Shah has become the president of BJP. Narendra Modi strengthens his hold on the party. This will stifle whatever meaningful dissent is left in the party. Success in the long run depends on respect for dissent. Any attempt to bulldoze one's views on the party will prove adverse in course of time. But then politicians are politicians.

Politicians never cease to entertain us. A former chief minister of Karnataka has demanded a neat sum of Rs.20 crore for a nomination to Legislative Council. The Congress yuvraj, Rahul Gandhi was found sleeping during a discussion in the Lok Sabha. Now the Congress spokespersons have been given the unenviable job of denying the obvious. Of course, they are not new to this comedy.