The Supreme Court has made scathing remarks on the present government while hearing the coal scam case. It has gone to the extent of labelling it as a massive breach of trust that has shaken the foundations of the country. How does the country's main Opposition party expect the ruling coalition to respond to these allegations? BJP's spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. The present governments deeds should be seen as the last nail in the coffin. Almost all the parties have misused CBI one way or the other. Let this be a clarion call. Anna was right at that time, all parties mocked him. Asked by: S ESHWAR
A. I will not agree that all parties have used CBI for their own political gains. But yes Congress led UPA govt has crossed all limits. First they do a massive corruption, then subvert the institutions and finally suppress the truth. I hope it is the final nail but Congress is too shameless.
Q. Sir, in your opinion how should the double standards of parties like SP and BSP be exposed? Because they condemn the government on coalgate issue but still provide support to govt. Isn't this "communal forces must be kept at bay" theory a bogey? Asked by: Oliver
A. The voters can only burst this bogey of secularism and communalism. Vote bank politics has ruined our country. In my opinion, Congress is the most communal party in the country. People must understand that if you speak about benefits for a particular community based on caste or religion then that is communilism and political outfits like our's who promote development for all Indians is true secularism. The answer lies more with the voters than political parties.
Q. Sir, how much ever you scream and shout that the Prime Minister must resign, it is a known fact that he will not. Then why this political hungama? Is it purely for political benefits only? Asked by: Shankar S Menon, Kochi
A. To generalise political parties are for politics but then it is also important in democracy to understand that opposition parties are the chowkidars of the nation and ruling parties are for welfare of the masses. Now if ruling coalition is not doing the job then we need to raise issues including PM's resignation, which is legitimate as he was the coal minister when scam happened. If Raja had to resign for 2G scam as a minister then why not the PM?
Q. Sir, do you foresee an effort by the UPA govt to clip the wings of judiciary in future? They seem to be itching to do so, by criticizing SC's judgements lately by saying judiciary in interfering in policy making. what is BJP's stand on this? Asked by: Srihari
A. Congress led UPA govt would love to as they feel all constitutional bodies should be under their control. Recently they tried to add more members to CAG but failed. We have seen in the case of CVC appointment of Mr Thomas although the decision got reversed through SC intervention. But coming to your point I don't think it is possible in a vibrant democracy like ours.
Q. Sir, why not BJP think all its MP resgin en mass as an option. Corruption and arrogance is going too far. Asked by: Sachin
A. Trust me this govt will fall under their own weight. Time has come.
Q. How cam BJP take high moral grounds when BJP did nothing to free CBI when they were in power and equally misused that organization? Asked by: avishek
A. A very good question. But to conclude that if during our regime it was not done then it should not be done now, will be an unfair judgement. Moreover we should also understand that independence of CBI from govt clutches has become relevant only now because of the current UPA govt is hell bent upon to destroy an investigative institution by using it for their own political dividends.
Q. It was so refreshing that first time in memory the CBI has shown the spine to tell highest court of our country that to what extent the present day "maharajas" can use it for their ulterior moves. Hope this is a new beginning and the congress government has to find other ways and means to succeed in hiding the misdeeds.but why do the BJP disrupt the parliament, why don't you allow this government to complete the quota of its misdeeds and fall under the weight of those accumulated misdeeds? Asked by: j.s.pandey
A. Before the parliament began BJP extended full cooperation to the govt by agreeing to pass certain important bills like land acquisition, food security, insurance and pension bill with some amendments, Lokpal bill etc etc. But cooperation doesn't mean that the Govt adopts a confrontationist attitude by forcing the parliament to adopt a bogus JPC report on 2G making PM and Finance Min scot free and indict Atal Behari Vajpayee. Similar approach on Coal scam ( you now have the SC indictment). So as a conscience keeper of the nation we need to corner the govt for their wrong doings.
Q. Sir, you have been telling that the PM must resign. Even I feel that it was his moral responsibility and that he must resign. But don't you think that you must ask the Law Min to resign first before asking that of Manmohan Singh? Asked by: Shankar S Menon, Kochi
A. We are asking PM to dismiss the Law Minister and then resign.
Q. Sir, I have always been a BJP sympathiser as i feel it is the only party in India with well laid out principles and not just coming to power. But deep inside i really fear that once the BJP comes to power in 2014 there will be vested interests even within the BJP to control the CBI. Do you think my fear is justified and if yes does the BJP have any specific idea to increase the autonomy of the CBI. I am tired of seeing India's premier investigating agency being ridiculed and humiliated everyday by the government of the day. I don't want that to happen at least after 2014. Asked by: Shiv
A. Trust me, BJP is committed for CBI autonomy and I will recommend you to read tomorrow Mr Arun Jaitley's article " CBI, Government and the Law Officers" it is a brilliant piece and will expel all your doubts as to how we propose to make the premier investigating agency truly independent of government.
Q. Why BJP is not pushing for a long term solution like having a strong Lokpal with independent investigating capabilities? How does the problem of corruption can be solved by PM resignation when his term is anyway going to end in few months? Will BJP have a promise on Independent CBI on its Manifesto? Asked by: Abhishek
A. I just replied above.
Q. BJP is no different..we have seen the kind of corruption which prevailed in Karnataka under BJP..why doesn't BJP first put its own house in order..we saw how difficult it was for BJP to remove power thirsty Yeddyurappa.. Asked by: Rohit
A. Karnataka has not been a happy story for us but one thing proudly I can say that once a Lokayukta had indicted our CM , within 24 hours we made him to resign. A commitment which was made by our then President on behalf of BJP. So we do walk the talk unlike Congress.
Q. Will stepping down of the PM, Law minister, Finance minister etc, is going to serve the purpose at large and pave way for better system at all? Asked by: Madhu K. Nair
A. Yes in democracy we all are accountable to the nation, so their resignation will hold as a precedence that Indian democracy will not tolerate corruption at high places.
Q. Many times, we the people see even BJP involved in these kind of scams such as the one in Karnataka. Do you think political parties in this country - without any exception - is taking the people for granted? and also do you think people will ever regain their trust on any government mechanisms including the politicians in foreseeable future? Asked by: Madhu K. Nair
A. BJP govts's largely have given a corrupt free governance. Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and earlier NDA under Vajpayee ji are some great examples. No political party can now take people for granted as long voters are not coloured on caste and religion biased.
Q. I think good and vocal presentation is as important as right intention and ideologies. Congress is successfully presented BJP as communal on their philosophy and our civilian as well as media acknowledged it accept it or not. Though we know that these people has no conscience and can do anything for their self achievement. Than why BJP is so unsuccessful in projecting so called secular parties (Congress, Sp, etc..) as communal. As they have infamous track record of communalism (1984 is one of them). Asked by: Satya
A. Gradually the opinion is changing and we are working on it.
Q. Dear Sir, the BJP raises the question of corruption, only when parliament is in session and this often ends up blocking affairs of the parliament. Should you be raising it more often and push the government really hard on the issue and ask it come clean? Your view sir. Asked by: Narayanan
A. We have raised it outside parliament on number of occassions and even now on 2nd May at all state capitals we have organised massive rallies/ protests against UPA's corrupt regime.
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