With all that has transpired over the past few days, it is not difficult to imagine what the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament is going to look like.
Needless to say, a storm is brewing.
After a meeting of its Parliament Strategy Group at the residence of its president Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party has called for an all-Opposition meeting ahead of the commencement of the session.
The plan is simple: to unitedly corner the Modi government on a host of issues ranging from Covid mismanagement, to compensation for pandemic victims, to farmer protests, just to name a few.
That such a plan is already in effect was evident yesterday when as many as 14 opposition parties boycotted the Constitution Day event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ramnath Kovind and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among others at the Central Hall in the Parliament.
What an irony, and such a shame, for something like this to have happened on a day that is celebrated in India every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
Yet something good came of it.
Any doubts and apprehensions that the Modi government would soften its stand on or roll back all its reform measures – akin to the recent climbdown on the three farm laws – that its detractors and the opposition have been up against were firmly and swiftly dispelled by Prime Minister Modi himself that day.
During his address at the event, the Prime Minister pulled no punches as he slammed the “colonial mindset” of many developed countries and the dynastic politics within India (in a barely veiled reference to Congress) for militating against reforms that were necessary for the nation’s progress.
His reprimanding of the opposition for boycotting the event, along with his warning that dynastic politics was a threat to democracy and India would be headed towards a “crisis” if it did not address the issue, was indication enough that Team Modi was committed as ever to pushing forward its reforms agenda and that the repeal of the three farm laws was a one-off.
It is absolutely important for the Modi government to remember that its first duty is to the development of the nation and the welfare of its people, and any opposition to that – no matter how powerful or persistent – should not undermine its efforts or force it to change course.
Earlier this month, while addressing a function celebrating the 89th birth anniversary of socialist leader Pradyumna Bal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: “Voices guided by political and social opportunism do not invite any merit. The voice of people is supreme in democracy. Voices guided by reasoning and inherent necessity of people are the needs of democracy. Such voices strengthen democratic value and spirit.”
With these words, the five-time Chief Minister of Odisha has perhaps articulated the best way for any democratic government to steer its nation’s ship in the right direction – no matter how stormy the seas.
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