An in-House attack on Parliament

If 9/11 is an unforgettable sad day for the United States, 13/2 is bad day for Parliamentary Democracy of India where an MP imitates a terrorist with a Pepper spray Gun while his colleague wields a knife to threaten the colleagues and the Speaker from taking up Telangana Bill. A Seemandhra MP went on pepper spraying spree for no reason. (Later he constructed a fiction of self-defence). It is no wonder that the same MPs and their group blame the ruling party for not conducting House in proper manner! Another surprise being that the principal opposition BJP is also on the same page!

Then another argument that developed was in this ‘din’ or ‘cacophony’ or ‘raged emotions’ or ‘disturbed’ or ‘disorder’ situation the Government should not push through the Telangana Bill. According to them, rushing the Bill in the last minute when Parliament is not in order or when there are strong violent protests is not democratic. In fact this argument is undemocratic.

The expressions like ‘pushing through’ or ‘rushing in’ are being used to deny Telangana their due democratic right to liberation from exploitation of Seemandhra and ultimately aimed at thwarting the formation of Telangana which came a long way after great struggle over many decades.

This means that a maverick MP, a contractor and an industrialist can stop the end-result of a great struggle and prolonged process of consultation since 2004 simply by using some pepper spray. He has previously announced to do some surprises and accordingly executed the plan. He could not stop the introduction of the Bill.

It is not just opposing the Bill, but physically stalling and using violent, unlawful and undemocratic methods to stop it. If pepper is sprayed into eyes of the MPs, the Speaker has to rush to hospital instead of debating Bill. What a fantastic idea? They claimed that the last ball is not yet bowled. Somebody claimed that real Brahmastra is yet to be fired. What that could be? Going by the bottom they stooped it could be administering purgative liquid to MPs, burning the papers or stealing key of almyrah in which files are present or in frustration throw a Diwali Bomb or use a real machine gun etc.

The non-suspended Seemandhra MPs might use any of these methods! One pepper spray has already resulted in more frisking of MPs and more suspicion on Andhra and anti-Telangana MPs to secure the lives of MPs, Speaker, Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and other important personalities. By the time the Lok Sabha is convened, people’s representatives may fear even to enter the House. The spouses might advise the MPs to remain at homes and avoid the House.

Jairam Ramesh, a columnist and Union Minister who being a member of GoM said, “Don’t rush or push through the Bill in a din or cacophony.” BJP leader LK Advani is so frustrated with burning eyes, advised that except vote on account nothing should go on. Then they have walked into the trap.

Congress agreed to form Telangana during 2004 election which was evident by their alliance with Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Similar was the stand of Telugu Desam who aligned with TRS in 2009 elections. The BJP repeatedly declared its commitment to creating Telangana state. It is a fact that there was broad consensus among the political parties. When individuals talk differently for their own purposes, can anybody say that consensus achieved by their parties was destroyed or withdrawn? Can an individual member withdraw the ‘agreement’ of the political party?

Congress, BJP and TDP want some votes and seats in Andhra as they are sure that voter support in Telangana is transferred to TRS or Congress or their combination. They accuse each other that it was being done for votes and seats. (These acts demonstrated their hate for Telangana). The leaders belonging Seemandhra especially one social group in BJP, TDP and Congress are lobbying and spending huge money to pressurise BJP to withdraw so that ‘somehow’ the Bill is deferred beyond the General Elections 2014.

The Constitution under Article 3 has mandated only ‘reference’ and nothing more than that, because the Constitutional visionaries had visualised that the people would elect some men who use pepper spray or knife to stall a democratic state reorganisation bill to perpetuate injustice on minority like Telangana.

Democracy and the Constitution did not provide any space for pepper sprays, knives and placards in legislative houses. Pepper spray guns are against rapists, knives are for extortionists and placards are for those who have no voice. Showing placards and shouting continuously are violent methods. Because of a few men never agree on Telangana, should it be shelved forever? These acts are breaches of Privileges of the House. Surely they amount to contempt of the House besides being criminal acts for which ordinary police has every power to investigate and prosecute. But this rule of law is confined to text books or statutes.

When whole India accepted a part of India to become a separate State, a small minority called Coastal Andhra or Rayalaseema cannot resort to street level cheap tactics to stall Telangana? They should remember that Telangana state is within the contours of the Constitution and the boundaries of Indian Union.

It is misuse of license to enter Lok Sabha and it becomes a criminal entry. They cannot hold the entire country to ransom with a pepper spray bottle imitating hijackers or terrorists. Their way of doing such things proves majority support and their frustration at it. They resorted to terrorise the majority with these tools of violence. Neither the Congress nor Parliament can pardon these people who deserve to be disqualified for contesting any election in future. Their minority is proved. By peaceful means the Telangana was accepted by majority people in the whole of nation, while a minority of Seemandhra are opposing it. This conspiracy is just not only against Telangana. It is against peace, justice and surely democracy. For we are rule of law society, these perpetrators of violent acts in Parliament should stand accountable and suffer legal consequences of penalties, expulsion from House and disqualification to contest forever.

(The writer, Information Commissioner, New Delhi, can be reached at [email protected] )