New Delhi: Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance completed one year in office, a major controversy involving a senior minister and a chief minister has erupted. Even though the BJP alone enjoys majority in the Lok Sabha and together with its allies has a massive mandate, yet many leaders of the ruling dispensation have been embroiled in various controversies giving the down-an-out opposition a chance to attack the government. Many key bills are pending in Parliament and there are now signs that all is not well in the BJP too particularly after the massive rout in the Delhi Assembly elections.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj triggered a controversy by admitting to getting a no objection to former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi's request to travel out of the United Kingdom for his wife's treatment. The controversy not only left the Narendra Modi government red-faced but also snowballed with the opposition alleging a nexus between India's who's who and the disgraced cricket czar.
While Sushma claimed that it was a ‘humanitarian act', opposition leaders accused her of helping Modi because of her family ties as both her husband and daughter are lawyers for the former IPL chief's case.
Another BJP leader who is in the line of fire is Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who signed documents to help Modi get UK stay permit in 2011 when she was the leader of opposition in the state Assembly. The Chief Minister claimed that she helped Modi as a friend.
The party not only went all out to defend the ministers but also accused the opposition of blowing the issue out of proportion. Even though BJP leaders gave a clean chit to Raje and her son Dushyant, it is maintaining a safe distance from the duo so as not to be dragged into the controversy. Sources say even the Prime Minister and BJP President Amit Shah cancelled an appointment with her.
With the badly mauled Congress still licking its wounds but in no mood to not miss any opportunity to hit out at the government, it has organised protests, rallies and questioned the Prime Minister's silence on the issue. With each passing day the attack on the government has been intensifying with a bitter of war of words.
Giving the Congress's image in the public, the attack may not be enough to stir the public and garner a huge support as it is also under attack from Lalit Modi and may face troubles in the coming days.
Senior leaders are refusing to comment on the issue but Centre's inaction against the Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje can backfire on the government. The government, on the other hand, is attempting hard to project its success by listing various initiatives and schemes rolled out in the last one year.
Amidst the Lalit Modi row, in a major setback a Delhi Court also admitted a petition seeking action against Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani in the row over her educational degrees. She has been accused of giving "false" information about her educational qualification in affidavits filed with the Election Commission. The case will be heard on August 28.
The complaint alleged that Irani in her three affidavits before the EC while filing nominations for her candidature for previous Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha polls had purportedly given different details about her educational qualification.
Another BJP leader who came under opposition's radar is Maharashtra MLA Pankaja Munde who is accused of flouting norms in a Rs-206 crore order she placed during her tenure as Maharashtra women and child development minister. The minister had allegedly cleared purchase of chikki, mats and books for Rs 206 crore without floating tenders for the same.
With the opposition is no mood to relent and Monsoon session of Parliament just a few weeks away, the government will face a tough task to get key legislations like Land Acquisition Bill, Real Estate Bill passed. The Lalit Modi row also does not seem to end anytime soon and the session may be a washout.
With Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi leading the protest against both the Land Bill and Real Estate Bill, it will be difficult to bring opposition on board. The government will be successful in getting the Bills passed in Lok Sabha but in Rajya Sabha, where it does not have the required number, it will be a tough task.
The crucial Bihar Assembly elections are also just months away and the opposition will try to corner the government on all issues, and drive mileage out of it during polls. The Congress, Janata Dal United and Rashtriya Janata Dal have joined hands in Bihar to neutralise the Modi wave.
The JDU had previously fought polls with the BJP but the election will also be litmus for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as he hopes to tilt the battle in his favour with the help both the Congress and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
Moreover, the troubles are not only from the outside but inside as well due to rift with veterans who are questioning the government. While patriarch LK Advani saying that another Emergency-like situation is a possibility, another senior leader Yashwant Sinha said all the leaders above 75 years of age were declared 'brain-dead' on May 26, 2014 (the day Narendra Modi-led government took oath).
Comments
0 comment