A special interview

Democratic spirit not in Congress veins: Sushma Swaraj

As the Budget Session of Parliament got going from February 16, BJP TODAY/BHAJAPA SAMACHAR spoke to Deputy Leader of BJP Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Smt. Sushma Swaraj on the points to be raised by the Party in the current session and some important issues concerning the functioning of Parliament and parliamentarians. She was very candid and forthright in her views. She was highly critical of the vote bank politics indulged in by the UPA government and for derailment, with ulterior political motives, of developmental projects launched by the NDA.

The Budget session of Parliament is on. What are the main issues you propose to raise?

The budget session of Parliament has a special significance. Very important business is transacted during this session. First is the President’s Address to Parliament read by him. It is a policy document of the Government in power. It reflects the Government’s thinking on matters concerning home and foreign affairs, besides what legislative business it proposes to introduce during the current session. Members of Parliament get an opportunity to raise matters of concern to their area and the country. They also get time to express their opinion on various matters that are raised in the House.

Government also presents the Economic Review before presenting the Budget. Then there is the presentation of Railway Budget before the regular budget when members can highlight the demands concerning railway facilities in their area.

There is general discussion on the budget after which departments whose demands are debated in the House are selected and discussed in detail.

Besides highlighting the problems facing the country during these discussions, we will also put the government in the dock on a number of issues, like the de-freezing of Quattrocchi’s accounts, dissolution of Bihar assembly and Supreme Court’s adverse comments against the Union Council of Ministers, India’s vote in IAEA against Iran and the Indo-US Nuclear Agreement on which the apprehensions expressed by us have come out to be true.

We also propose to raise the alarming situation arising out of debt burden of farmers and consequential suicides by thousands of farmers. The aaam aadmi is groaning under the weight of price rise is also an issue. The prices of petrol, diesel have been hiked numerous times. The housewife is under great strain because of prices of LPG being raised every other month. We have already given notice to raise these issues.

We also propose to issue call attention notices on other important matters, like setting up of 6 AIIMS in the country and the effort of the UPA government either to discontinue the public welfare projects launched by NDA government or with ulterior political motive to starve these of funds so that these fail to take off. In Jharkhand, UPA government has resorted to lock-out in Central government offices and undertakings and BJP is vehemently protesting against this attitude prejudicial to the interests of the State. Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Yashwant Sinha has been put behind bars for opposing this dictatorial decision of Union government.

We raised the issue of census of Muslims in Armed Forces. It is a clear attempt of the UPA government to divide the national army on communal lines. We oppose it tooth and nail.

We have raised the issue of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad, the inflammatory statements by a UP Minister and denigrating portrayals of Bharat Mata by painter M. F. Hussain. BJP insisted that Shri Hussain should be censured. As a result, the Government had ultimately to state that it “condemned such portrayals”.

UPA government has been carrying on its onslaught against Institutions of the Constitution. What would you say?

It is a deliberate attempt. Their intentions are very clear. Congress never had faith in democracy. Whenever Communists have supported Congress governments, the attacks on institutions of the Constitution increase. In Goa, Bihar and Jharkhand there were blatant attempts through underhand means and misuse of the office of Governor to foist Congress governments in defiance of the people’s mandate.

Election Commission accomplished a commendable job by ensuring free, fair and peaceful polls in Bihar assembly elections. Instead of its achievement being applauded, a Union Minister is on record having unjustifiably attacked the Election Commission.

In Supreme Court verdicts, be it in the case of Bihar, declaring of IMDT Act as “unconstitutional”, AMU minority status and religion-based reservation to Muslims and others, Government has shown scant regard for judicial pronouncements.

Congress is behaving as per its nature. There is nothing new; nothing to feel surprised about. Had it not indulged in these acts, we would have been surprised. We would have thought that perhaps it had learnt a lesson from its Emergency misadventure.

A controversy has erupted on the continuance or otherwise of the MPLAD scheme. What are your views?

Arguments can be advanced both for and against the Scheme. It matters less as to whether a scheme is good or bad; what matters most is how it is implemented. It was launched with a good intention – to involve the elected representatives in the developmental process of the area. Supposing there was no bridge, no building for a school or no village road, the MP could sanction the money and provide this facility to the people in need. But, unfortunately, corruption crept in implementation of the scheme. Advaniji suggested that the scheme should be scrapped and the Rs. 1600 crores annually being sanctioned by MPs of both the Houses of Parliament should be used for State funding of elections. This will do away with curses of corruption, malpractices and money-power plaguing our electoral system. The Hon’ble Speaker convened a meeting of all parties to consider the suggestion but Smt. Sonia Gandhi opposed it and the proposal fell through.

Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi had once said that only 15 paise out of one rupee sanctioned by government was spent for the welfare of the people. That is, to some extent, true also. But from my experience I can say that with honesty and sincerity of purpose, one can get work worth Rs. 1.15 executed with just Rupee one. I ensured that the PWD authorities levied no establishment charges. People charged only actual money. Given the zeal and spirit, one can achieve great development without an element of corruption and commission.

It has been observed that Parliament is feeling handicapped because of declining presence of MPs in the House. What is your opinion and how do you feel about it?

Main reason for lesser presence in the House is that during the Session MPs bring many people of the area who wish to pursue their cases with the Ministers and Departments. People are also sure of the availability of Ministers in Delhi during these days and therefore they also come on their own.

Media too, to some extent, is to be blamed for this. If there is a furore in the House, the news is given a four-column coverage. Serious discussions on important and burning issues facing the country and matters raised during Zero Hour get eclipsed and receive no media attention. This demoralises the MP who participates in a debate after great research and study and makes important points.

When an MP gets elected, he is at the peak of his popularity. But after he gets elected, his popularity wanes. Why is it so?

It may be a feeling, but certainly is not a fact. In fact, after a person gets elected, his sphere becomes larger. He shoulders more responsibility towards his constituents, towards the party, the Parliament and the nation. That taxes his mind, his time and his leisure.

However good an MP you may be; however successful you may have been in raising issues concerning your area, district and State in Parliament, with the Government and get people’s grievances redressed, it hardly matters. Today people expect you to join them in their village and family celebrations. They expect you to spend the same amount of time which you did earlier.

After you become an MP, your time-table changes. Your life-style changes. You have to put on different kind of clothes. Therefore, you also have to change according to the demands of the new duty and responsibility. The quality of time you spend with your people is more important than the quantity of time. You should compensate people with a warmth in your feelings so that they realise that even though you are hard pressed for time, yet you continue to have the same warmth in your feelings for them as before. People should not get the feeling that you are now different or that you have changed. You should remain the same and make them feel so. If you do not lose your roots; if the feeling of warmth remains so; if you do not allow arrogance to take the better of you, your relationship and bonds with people remains unchanged.

In 28 years of my political life, I have never experienced any problem. Small things, like a greeting card, telephone on a birthday or anniversary, does matter. People do realise that although you may not have that much time any more as before, you have not forgotten them.

The channels of communication should never, never be snapped. That is important.

What qualities do you perceive in a model MP?

The first quality is one’s own conduct. To be a leader a person has to be an ideal, a model for others. One should not get vain and stiff-necked. Integrity and humility should be the hallmark of one’s personality. Feeling of arrogance should never be allowed to grow.

The second quality is to be alive to the problems and needs of the constituency one represents and the capability to forcefully present people’s demands and grievances before the authorities concerned.

One should be dedicated and devoted towards his duty as a Parliamentarian. One should acquire an expertise on the issues one raises in Parliament.