The 15th Loksabha gets dissolved in a few weeks and along with it , a number of bills too bite the dust, some of which were very important under present circumstances and which had wide consensus on several fronts including major political parties. But, somehow they couldn't see the light of the day, thanks to the union cabinet's decision not to pursue the ordinance route. And that makes for the least productive Loksabha ever with most ever number of lapsing bills(68, to be exact) while 2200 crores were spent on it for the 5 years of its time.
All excuses of technicalities, complexities, apprehensions, differences and disruptions which never arose while passing the bills that were benefiting political interests or politicians's personal interests, came in the way of passing anti graft bills(grievance redressals bill ,etc.), women reservations bill, judicial accountability bill ,etc(detailed report here and archive of 15th loksabha here). How come? Did all parties which publicly supported all these bills really committed to their word? Or did they just said it for face value and are letting them lapse, while blaming each other on camera and shaking hands behind?
It was said that the Union Government rejected to go with the ordinance route on anti graft bills as the President let his displeasure known about the same. But, however they did approve the ordinance on an amendment regarding the recently passed AP Reorganization Bill. Obviously, they want us to believe that they are two different issues.How different are they really? Similar to the Telangana issue, there was consensus on the other bills too. With this decision, all the effort, time and money that was spent on these bills for the last 5 years gets trashed along with the hope to fight against corruption.
And at last, the view that passing an ordinance now would be subverting the democratic system as General Elections are near, seems to be just a rhetoric that suits the detractors when there is no other way of opposing a move that is clearly pro-people. When whole nation is crying foul on corruption and women's issues, aren't lapsing anti graft bills and women's reservations bill, etc., eligible for ordinance route? Especially when it ultimately needs the approval of the new Parliament, during which the bill can be amended/disapproved?
But, the parties play tricks around these lines, Rahul claims the credit for trying to bring in those ordinances, BJP claims Congress is trying to do all things in a hurry at the last minute and they can play this ball back and forth, long, while the real issues take back seat, as they did for years now. After all, what purpose does the constitution, laws, and technicalities serve, when they are ultimately doing disservice to people.
Unfortunately, it still takes time for a majority of us to see through these multiple disguises that parties and politicians wear, at times, and rise above petty issues of region, religion, caste, sops, liquor and money while voting. Voting for common good, not just for oneself or one group is unlike us for now. Hope we get through this phase soon enough.
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