The Hindu : Opportunity for unity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 17, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Opportunity for unity

By K.K. Katyal

NEW DELHI MAY 16. The decision to devote the last day of the current session of the Lok Sabha to a discussion on the stepped-up terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir provides a valuable opportunity for projecting a united image at a crucial stage in New Delhi's dealings with Pakistan. In their first reactions to the gruesome murders near Jammu, party leaders avoided striking partisan notes, though they did raise questions on the state of precautionary steps. There is a strong case for building upon this spirit of unity.

This job may not be that easy for at least three reasons. One, the confrontation between the Government and the Opposition was at its sharpest of late. This was evident from the aftermath of the recent Assembly elections, on the one hand, and goings-on in Parliament on the other. (The current session witnessed interruption of the proceedings for six days on Gujarat, while the Government resorted to the use of a device, the joint sitting of the two Houses, to get over the combined Opposition's bid to block a draconian Bill).

The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, had been at the centre of a bitter controversy after his re-induction into the Union Cabinet during the pendency of an inquiry by a Commission, set up by the Government for Tehelka-related issues. The Opposition took strong objection to it and boycotted all dealings with him — they did not ask the listed questions, meant to be answered by the Defence Minister in Parliament: they stayed away from a meeting of the consultative committee attached to the Defence Ministry as also during Mr. Fernandes' speeches in Parliament. Three, there was the suspicion on the part of some sections of the Opposition that the ruling combine, the BJP in particular, may make political use of the latest crisis to promote its interests and to get over the discomfiture and humiliation caused by recent adverse situations.

In the past, the parties on different sides of the political fence showed remarkable resilience in times of crises. This was true irrespective of which one of them was in power. The present situation calls for pushing the differences into the background so as to enable the country to meet the new challenges unitedly. This does not mean that the Opposition has to give up its principled position on important issues, but it does mean a determined bid not to let the divergence come in the way of a united approach. The Opposition could consider making a one-time exception to the boycott of Mr. Fernandes — making a distinction between him (in his personal and political capacity) and the country's Defence Minister. On its part, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, would need to rein in the hotheads in the BJP and restrain — to the extent it is possible for him — the extremists in the Sangh Parivar, some of whom were instrumental in promoting discord and disunity. Could the country forge a united front against external challenges when communal forces have rendered thousands of citizens refugees in their own country?

All-party unity will serve an important purpose in that it would prevent competitive extremism in responding to the situation created by the latest terrorist strike. The brutality and ghastliness of the killings shook the people to the core, rendering them bitter and angry. In this situation, some sections may advocate extreme steps out of genuine concern but there may well be a tendency on the part of others to engage in one-upmanship. A calm atmosphere resulting from all-party unity would help the country — the decision-makers in the Government — weigh various options with the utmost care without allowing their gaze to be deflected from realism.

The Government and the ruling combine have a bigger responsibility, especially because of their poor record in taking the Opposition into confidence on important issues. It may be worthwhile to consider establishment of a small, compact consultative group comprising seniors from the Government and the Opposition. At two other levels, the former Prime Ministers and retired Service Chiefs could be involved in separate consultative processes.

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