November 21, 2024

Once again, the Congress party is indulging in the politics of blackmail – this time to protect its first family and some other important leaders. The party has said that it will send the GST Bill “for a skywalk” in retaliation for what it calls “political vendetta” in the National Herald case. It will hold the country and its citizens to ransom by not letting any fruitful business from being conducted in the Parliament.

I have said previously and repeat again forcefully, Parliament is not the place to fight personal battles - especially one where you are protesting against a decision of a High Court of the nation. The Congress is casting aspersions on both the judiciary and the democratically elected government of the nation by alluding that the High Court decision is motivated.

Consider the facts: even three days ago, Congress functionaries were saying that it was willing to debate the GST Bill and it had some issues with it that needed to be sorted out. On Monday, 7th December, The Times of India carried an op-ed article “Batting For Good GST” by Rajdeep Singh Surjawala, media incharge of the AICC (co-authored by Muhammad A Khan, an advocate of the Supreme Court) where the party’s view was very logically and forcefully presented.

The last paragraph of the article raised hopes that a solution to the tangle was very near. I reproduce it in full – “whether the GST Bill goes through with or without addressing these concerns will unfold in the days to come. But one thing of consequence has already been accomplished: the government has learned the importance of conciliation and engagement in democracy.”

Then on Monday itself came the Delhi High Court order dismissing the appeal of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and directing them to appear personally before the trial court in the National Herald case. This immediately changed the Congress’ considered and logical view on the GST Bill. It is beyond comprehension how a High Court decision can alter an all India political party’s view on a financial reform bill of national importance. It is like a child telling her mother that she will not study until she is given a chocolate bar. Is the Congress telling the nation that if the government prods Subramaniam Swamy to withdraw the National Herald case, it will allow GST and other bills an easy passage in Parliament?

Nothing can be more undemocratic than this. If a High Court has given a decision, it should be fought legally by due process. The Congress has even decided to challenge it in the Supreme Court. That is the best option available to any common Indian citizen aggrieved by a High Court order. If a political party thinks it has the license to fight its personal battles inside Parliament, then it is sadly mistaken and is acting elitist. Why can’t Sonia and Rahul, like any other common Indian citizen, accept the High Court verdict and wait for the decision of the appeal it will file in the Supreme Court? Why do they have to flex their muscles in a forum that has nothing to do with such matters?

If Sonia, Rahul and other Congress leaders have nothing to hide in the National Herald case, they should follow the judicial process and have faith in the country’s judiciary. By being obstructive and indulging in hooliganism, the Congress is doing a great disservice to the nation and jeopardizing its own future.

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