The House.
Written on 7/21/2008 11:13:00 pm by Swift!
Most of the day was spent watching the Trust Motion. I quite got addicted to the news and the LS proceedings. At times it was fun to watch the nonsenses uttered by some members and at at other times I wondered which side is right and whether the deal is good or bad for the nation. Among the speakers I had heard speaking, Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation was my favourite. He, rightly emphasized that none of the members were talking about the core issue: Energy Security, something that has to be discussed in such a great detail, and were bluffing on trivial and irrelevant matters. He said that whether or not the government wins trust, it should be the interest of the members to seriously discuss the measures for energy security, a serious concern for every nation, which was not happening in the Parliament as no one was taking it seriously. I liked his voice modulation very much. Initially he was so calm that I felt that he didn't quite fit into the role of a LS "speaker". But minutes later he was roaring. And the best thing was that he wasn't bluffing. He talked to the point and quoted figures. And he kept his time. It was great to watch him talk. I felt that what he had said was right as other members were talking on topics completely foreign to the subject of discussion. One eminent (Sikh) member was saying that he won't support the motion as the Sikhs haven't benefitted anything though it's a Sikh Prime Minister! Another person started saying something and just as the Ruling camp opposed saying that what he had said was a breach of some rule in the House, he just swallowed his words and said the exact opposite. His attempt to save face was really a comedy to watch. Finally Somnath Chatterjee put him in a fix. He assured the ruling camp that whatever this respectable member is saying is true, so he claims, so he will have to bring the evidence tomorrow. (Poor guy, he will have to bring the "imaginary" newspaper he was supposedly quoting).
Somnath Chatterjee is another person to behold. He is doing a superb job. Don't know what his fate will be after the motion, with the CPM crying for his blood. But I feel that what he did was proper-the Speaker should put the House above everything else, even his party. Actually the CPM should have been a bit more sensible, at least to save itself from the present disgrace. But can't blame them, Somnath's refusal to quit makes the opposition lose two votes: one of Somanath in favour of CPM. The other vote is that of the Deputy Speaker, who will assume charge as the Speaker when the Somnath quits. As the Deputy Speaker is a sure vote in favour of the Congress, the Congress would have lost his vote if he becomes the Acting Speaker (as the Speaker doesn't vote in the normal case). Thus Somnath's refusal to resign is a double blow to the No-Confidence seekers. And only time can prove how crucial these two votes can become, as the margin is very narrow.
I am waiting for the final result. And it's going to be a suspense-thriller. Let's see what happens. Can the UPA prove the majority they claim or will it be the CPMs turn to overthrow a Govt. which went against it's wishes?
