Rahul Gandhi Should Not Have Accepted Om Birla As Speaker Without A Fight

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by accepting Narendra Modi’s nominee Om Birla as the Speaker of Lok Sabha without a division in the house on June 26 has not set a good example as the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha in his first confrontation with the third time Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul gave the impression of being a leader who believes in democratic functioning but his rival Modi has not changed, he remains stuck to his old authoritarian moorings. Rahul even did not try for a deal over deputy speakership for opposition while allowing Modi to nominate Om Birla as speaker for the second time.

The real reason what made Rahul to be soft on Birla issue Birla is not yet known, but one thing is explicit that through his action. Rahul has simply endorsed the observation that Rahul is yet to learn realpolitik. In parliamentary politics the political leaders are supposed to follow certain ethical norms. But Rahul has been fighting a battle crucial for the survival of the country, its democratic structure and sovereignty against a PM who has no faith in democratic values.

Rahul and his advisers must feel elated at the so called political gains made out of his gesture for supporting Birla and may even describe it as an astute political move, but the fact cannot be denied that he has committed a big blunder, which would prove to be the proverbial beginning of Modi dictating his terms.

INDIA bloc emerging as a major force and Congress winning nearly 100 seats, adding around 48 seats to its earlier strength, was construed as a step towards decline of the rightist and communal forces represented by BJP. But today’s development makes it abundantly clear that it is not true. Modi has once again proved beyond doubt that by getting his protégé chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha he had upbraided RSS and Rahul Gandhi. It demolishes the perception that Rahul is an astute politician.

It is beyond discernment how could Rahul forget the manner in which Birla joined Modi’s initiative to decapicitate the parliamentary system. Even a common citizen of the country is yet to forget how he suspended around 140 parliamentarians and threw them out of the house and using their absence allowed Modi to have three draconian laws, replacing IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act passed by the house. What an irony these three laws in their new avatars will become operative from July 1. It was under his rule Mahua Moitra, a TMC MP was thrown out of house. Incidentally Rahul himself had been victim of his vindictive action; he was disqualified as member of the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2023.

One simple question should have struck Rahul; why was Modi adamant to bring back Birla as the Speaker? Probably the answer to this question is known to everyone except Rahul. Om Birla takes his orders from Modi and acts on it. What happened in Lok Sabha on June 26 simply underscores that he has not changed. After occupying the chair he assured the members that he would ensure smooth functioning of the house, but soon after Birla read out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency and flaying then prime minister Indira Gandhi for her attack on the Constitution.

BJP members protested in the Parliament Complex, targeting the Congress over the imposition of Emergency in 1975 and demanded the opposition party’s apology for violating the Constitution. The most shocking was Modi appreciating Birla for his condemnation of the Emergency and Indira Gandhi and said it was a wonderful gesture to stand in silence in honour of all those who suffered during those days.

The scene prevailing in the house made it abundantly clear that it was planned earlier. Sources maintain that this was to happen on June 25, coinciding with the date Emergency was slapped. It was expected that Birla would be sworn in that day. Somehow it did not happen and Birla took oath on June 26. By targeting Indira Gandhi, Modi also sent a very loud and clear message that Nehru-Gandhi family continues to be his prime target. In fact he wanted to portray that he is above Pandit Nehru and this is the reason that his becoming prime minister for three successive term is being highlighted.

Of late Rahul has been carrying copy of the Constitution where ever he goes. Rahul had exhibited copy of Constitution while Modi took oath as member of the house. Modi for some time has been contemplating to snub him and finally he chose June 25 as the day to attack Indira and insult Rahul. Else there was no rationale for Birla abruptly condemning Emergency and adopting a resolution reproving Indira, which was imposed 50 years ago. This was also a shrewd move of Modi to snatch the initiative from Rahul’s hand and put him on defensive. INDIA bloc has been consistently describing his ten-year rule as period of undeclared emergency.

Modi has not changed. He even did not bother for the counselling and good words from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. He conveyed this message to the members of the Lok Sabha through Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, a BJP member, who in turn did not press for a division of votes. Though opposition was not agreeable to his nomination, it reconciled and accepted him as the protem Speaker. Modi ultimately managed to have his way.

Later Congress MP Jairam Ramesh clarified that the opposition has not asked for division of votes as a constructive step from their end. He said, “I am telling you formally, we didn’t ask for division of votes. We didn’t ask for it because we found it appropriate that there be a consensus on the first day, that there be an atmosphere of consensus on the first day. This was a constructive step from our end. We could have asked for division (of votes).”

But senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee clarified that the pro-tem speaker did not allow voting in the election for the Lok Sabha speaker even as several opposition MPs sought a division of votes. He said “The rule says that if any member of the House asks for division, the pro-tem speaker has to allow it. You can clearly see and hear from the footage of the Lok Sabha that several members of the opposition sought and asked for a division”. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab made the announcement after the opposition, which had forwarded the name of eight-term Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate, did not press for votes to the motion. Even TMC MP Kirti Azad said at least eight opposition members had sought a division.

The two divergent versions make it absolutely clear that leaders of INDIA bloc have not evolved a concrete strategy for floor ordination inside the house and had not visualised that situation like this may erupt. They were caught unguarded. Rahul trying to play Samaritan proved him costly. Rahul ought to have realised that the people had voted for him to govern. INDIA unfortunately could not get the required number. It was a mandate for him to fight and unseat the anti-democratic rightist force. Ironically instead of responding to the peoples’ desire, he virtually abdicated his responsibility.

Rahul must realise that simply ideological rhetoric is not enough. He must ensure that the people who feel baptised and had responded to his exhortation should not feel betrayed. Through their speeches in response to the appeals by the opposition members, Modi and Birla made it explicit that they would not change their track and in all probability they would become more ruthless.

Rahul aspires to be recognised as a seasoned but rationale politician with a humane face, naturally he ought to acquire the skill and political acumen to read between the lines. Two developments should have made him cautious. First, the vibes emanating from 28 BJP MPs. Political circle was already abuzz of their desire to distance from Modi.. It was sign of their protest to Modi’s nominee. These are hard core RSS loyalists. They nurse the feeling that Modi must be contained. Second, refusal of Modi to concede the opposition demand to have their person as the deputy speaker. It obviously implied that Modi abhors the idea of a deputy to Birla who would act like stumbling block.

Rahul should have looked into the game plan of Modi. These two developments should have been taken note of by him.. But he ignored them. It appears that he believed Rajnath Singh’s words that he was exploring the possibility of offering the deputy speakership to INDIA bloc. Status enjoyed by Rajnath in BJP is not unknown. Modi does not listen to him. In the existing situation he is being given importance only to facilitate Amit Shah to gain back his position in the NDA, in view of the opposition from TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and from Nitish Kumar to Shah at present..

Rahul should have also taken note of violation of constitutional norms and provisions by Modi and Shah. Modi became leader of the NDA even without approval of the BJP parliamentary party. He prevailed upon President Draupadi Murmu to summon him for oath taking. Rahul showed his magnanimity by supporting Birla. But Modi never came to him with the proposal to choose the post of Speaker on the basis of consensus. (IPA Service)