People's Democracy

THIS expression, used both as an exclamation and a curse is one way, albeit a mild way, to describe the re-induction of George Fernandes as the defence minister.

This decision of prime minister Vajpayee raises many questions concerning the propriety of governance, or lack of it, as practised by him. First the brazenness with which all norms of public and political morality have been thrown to the winds. The BJP much tom-tormmed its so-called character of being a party with a difference. The ramshackle coalition of over two dozen parties that it put together called the NDA (read National Disaster Alliance), echoed the same. Practice has shown that this is indeed a government with a difference – but the difference is that it treats all established norms of governance in a parliamentary democracy with the utmost contempt. Even former prime minister Narasimha Rao, linked as he was with a string of corruption scandals, was forced to maintain a pretence of denying tickets to those whose names figured in the Hawala scam. Even such pretences are abandoned by Vajpayee.

The reinduction of Hiren Pathak, even while he faces conviction on a murder charge, only compounds the crime and seals Vajpayee and his government’s credibility and integrity as the worst independent India has seen.

Clearly, the decision to reinduct George Fernandes was taken purely on considerations of remaining in power. Such is the lust for power that a person who, as Defence Minister, lends his house to be used for money laundering in defence deals, jeopardising the country’s security, apart from patronising corruption of the worst kind, is rewarded instead of being-punished! Vajpayee buys the longevity of his government through the highest corruption: bribing his allies to remain in his coalition, thereby neutralising their threats to leave the coalition. Can there be a greater shame for the spirit of India?

Hiren Pathak’s reinduction seems to be governed by the BJP’s desperation to cling on to any available figleaf to reverse its fortunes in Gujarat, where it is facing the possibility of its biggest electoral defeat in recent times.

Secondly, this re-induction raises serious concerns regarding the norms and established practices of parliamentary democracy. The principles of accountability and transparency demand that all allegations of commission and omission must be probed to establish culpability. Meanwhile the concerned individuals must cease to remain in office lest they influence the probe. Vajpayee has discarded this established practice with obnoxious contempt.

The Tehelka exposures had severely compromise Fernandes. In desperation the Samata Party had questioned the authenticity of the tapes. The Venkataswami Commission enquiring into the allegations, upheld the authenticity of the tapes and rejected the Samata Party contention of their being doctored. Infact the Commission has issued summons to the George Fernandes to depose before it under Section 11 which entails examination of witnesses against whom prima facia evidence exists.

The initial judgement of the Commission, therefore, is unambiguous. George Fernandes is culpable.

The reinduction under these circumstances, apart from negating all established democratic norms, also reflects the sinister design to influence the remaining course of the enquiry. Fernandes as the minister, can deny access and delay examination of crucial files rendering the enquiry fruitless. This may will be a major reason for his re-induction. For an indictment by the Commission, especially before the crucial UP polls, would have made this Vajpayee government’s continuance untenable.

It is indeed a matter of shame, that the minister is inducted while defence officers figuring in the tehelka tapes have been court-martialed by the Army, and some dismissed. This sort of discrimination in the application of justice only reinforces the cynical view that ruling party politicians are above the law. Such cynicism is further bolstered when, upon reinduction, Fernandes announces that seventy-five per cent of budgetary allocation for defence purchases has remained unutilised! He proposes to correct (sic!) this. Clearly

More murky defence deals are in the offing.

Seven months ago the country was told that until the enquiry commission clears all those figuring in the tehelka tapes, none would be rehabilitated. Fernandes himself shouted hoarse to this effect. Of course, given Fernandes’s capitulations that mark him out as the master of unscrupulous political opportunism, it would have been foolish to take him at his word.

Such shameful conduct and style of governance is unacceptable. It is time that the Indian people, unmistakably opposed to such blatant opportunism must rally together to restore some degree of decency and decorum to Indian politics. As the first step in this direction, this Vajpayee government must be forced to quit office.