POTO to dominate session

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 18. The Vajpayee Government is going to find itself batting on the back-foot most of the time during the Parliament session that begins tomorrow, with both the BJP and the Opposition positioning themselves for the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh. Neither the Government seems inclined to seek a genuine understanding with its political rivals nor the Opposition is prepared to make things easier for the Treasury benches.

The most partisan battle is likely to be fought on the issue of ratification of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), though for tactical reasons the Government may wait till the later half of the five-week session before seeking parliamentary approval for this initiative.

Since the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, has already opted to take a partisan approach to the POTO ratification, the Opposition is equally keen to frustrate the Government strategy of making political capital out of the internal security-related issues. In any case, the ruling NDA does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The issue of POTO ratification is further complicated by the fact that while the AIADMK has announced its support, the Akali Dal, the Telugu Desam and the Trinamool Congress may be less than enthusiastic in their support for the Bill.

The Congress, which is being targeted by the BJP-led Government for having different yardsticks in dealing with terrorists by opposing POTO and tackling organised crime in States such as Karnataka and Maharashtra with similar laws, has a major role to play in blocking the Ordinance.

Besides the POTO, the return of Mr. George Fernandes to the Union Cabinet even before his name has been cleared by the Commission of Inquiry in the Tehelka matter, is going to be questioned.

The good news for the Government is that there seems to be little enthusiasm within the Opposition for an effective floor- coordination, with the Congress and the Samajwadi party remaining committed to different Uttar Pradesh-centric political agenda. The Left parties, today decided to coordinate with other opposition parties to work for the defeat of POTO as they strongly disapprove the Government's action in promulgating the Ordinance.

At a meeting here, the parties - the CPI(M), the CPI, the RSP and the AIFB - decided to highlight the Government attempts to vitiate the communal atmosphere by treating the RSS, the VHP, and the Bajrang Dal leaders, with ``kid-gloves''. In a statement, the parties said the open provocation by the RSS chief, Mr. K.S. Sudarshan, to acquire arms, the breach of the Supreme Court order by VHP leaders and distribution of tridents were greeted with conciliatory inaction. They will demand the Government come out with details of the plan contemplated by the PM to solve the Ayodhya problem by March next and explain the circumstances in which the Students Islamic Movement of India was banned.

The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement on his recent tour of the U.S., Russia, the U.K. and the U.N. The Left parties today said they would press for a discussion on the issue. A similar demand is expected to be raised when the Government comes forward with a statement on the recent Doha round of the World Trade Organisation.

The five-week winter session would have 22 sittings. However, the Parliament is likely to be adjourned tomorrow as a mark of respect to Madhavrao Scindia.

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