A responsible opposition party: Much needed today
Having defeated every conspiracy planned by the BJP to collapse the Cong-JD(S) coalition, the government has been successful in presenting its first budget. Normally opposition parties cause embarrassment to ruling parties by exposing their lacunae and lack of good administration. The opposition parties must show their efficiency in the first few months after they sit in their position. Unfortunately, when we look at the last few months in Karnataka, the opposition party is trying to turn resorts into assembly house and is attempting to weaken the government.
BJP tried to create unrest with its ‘operation Kamala’ instead of the failure of administration if any, in the session. Yeddyurappa and his team insisted that the coalition government did not have majority and it should be allowed to present the budget. They even ensured a few days of session were lost with this ruckus. But One wouldn’t ever understand how they were claiming that the government had lost its numbers.
MLAs have not gone in groups to the Governor to claim they had withdrawn support. Even if that happens, vote of trust needs to be proved on the floor of the house. There have been no developments amounting to this step, even by the BJP. Some MLAs are in Mumbai and are expressing their displeasure about the government, and that they are in touch with the BJP should lead to the fall of a government? This is the biggest mockery of democracy.
After all this, it’s not the government that needs to resign but the BJP leaders who are claiming to form the government every fortnight or so. They need to quit their posts. They are indulging in horse trading in daylight which is against the spirit of constitution. Only an immature politician can claim the government has lost its support with the assurance that MLAs can be “bought”. Two days of session lost is a big loss for the state. BJP owes people an explanation on this.
Along with this, CM Kumaraswamy has released audio recording of Yeddyurappa’s ‘horse trading’ attempt in the session on Friday. Such an audio was released even before the government was formed and BSY was speaking to a JD(S) leader offering him a price for detracting. The recent audio only proves Yeddyurappa’s efforts have not stopped after all this, and he is still hopeful of collapsing a government. Though the BJP leaders are trying to sweep this under the carpet saying the voice is not that of Yeddyurappa, it does not quite seem like a mimic of his voice since he has openly made such efforts in the last few months.
A BJP leader who was victim of this horse trading had even held a press conference on this. Now this audio needs to be vetted to understand whether this is fake or original. And if indeed the horse trading is on, the culprits engaging in this have to be arrested and their financial statuses should be investigated into. Since centre has BJP government, this seems to be impossible as of now. But the horse trading has surely affected the administration. Hence JD(S) and Congress MLAs who are often seen in BJP camp trying to blackmail, have to be acted upon. The sale happens only when there’s something to be sold. If buying is a crime, selling too is one. Hence the MLAs have to be controlled as a primary step.
This horse trading has affected the image of BJP and especially of BSY. His claims of ‘government is weak, and we’ll be in the chair soon’ are weakening the already battered BJP. Party insiders say the leaders within BJP are prompting him to act this way so that his image suffers a beating. This way, he is projected like a power hungry leader. Operation Kamala is creating a tentative insecurity to the government and the government has to spend time taming the MLAs from going to BJP over carrying out developmental works.
More attempts of Operation Kamala will also mean there’d be more corruption within the government. To buy MLAs or to retain them, both parties will have to spend a lot of money. This may put the government into the hands of corrupt. Having lost the race to form the government, BJP should behave like a responsible opposition party and perform its duty. It should work towards the welfare of the people by exposing any inefficiencies in governance and administration by the government. Else, in this petty fight for power, a voter will be the biggest loser.
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Australia bundled out for 104 as India take 46-run first-innings lead
Perth (PTI): Pacer Jasprit Bumrah completed his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests as Australia were bundled out for 104 at lunch, losing the remaining three wickets in the morning session on Day 2 to give India a handy 46-run first-innings lead in the opening match here on Saturday.
For India, captain Jasprit Bumrah (5/30) was the pick of the bowlers while Mohammed Siraj (2/20) and debutant Harshit Rana (3/48) also chipped in.
It was a abject surrender from Australia, who could add just 37 runs to their overnight score of 67/7, thanks chiefly to tail-ender Mitchell Starc (26), who emerged the highest scorer for his side
Bumrah struck the first blow on Saturday, dismissing keeper-batter Alex Carey (21) off the first ball of his over as the Australian could add just two runs to his overnight score.
India were all out for 150 from 49.4 overs at the stroke of tea on Friday.
Brief Scores:
India: 150 all out in 49.4 overs vs Australia: 104 all out in 51.2 overs (Alex Carey 21, Mitchell Starc 26; Jasprit Bumrah 5/30, Harshit Rana 3/48, Mohammed Siraj 2/20).
