New Delhi: As expected the Budget session of Parliament is witnessing chaos. But, the ruling BJP-led NDA government has sent out strong signals that it will not step back and will continue to be belligerent. With its core constituency in favour of a strong stand against the "anti-nationals", the BJP leaders have given the signal that they will take on any criticism and opposition head on.
The charge has been led Union HRD minister Smriti Irani who lashed out at the opposition and told them that certain issues are non-negotiable. Her tone and body language suggested that the government was not on the back foot on the JNU 'sedition' row and the suicide of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula at the Hyderabad Central University.
BSP chief Mayawati raised the issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide in the Rajya Sabha and attacked the BJP government over rising "intolerance". However, the BJP brushed aside her concerns and continued its attack on the opposition.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has strongly defended the Centre's action against some JNU students. He said, "We can't tolerate slogans like "won't rest till the destruction of India" etc. Let the opposition decide if they are with martyrs or with anti-India forces."
Before that former Union home secretary and BJP MP from Arrah in Bihar, RK Singh, too defended the government action. He said that anti-India slogans should never be tolerated and the strictest action should be taken against these people.
Delhi Police's decision to oppose JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's bail application in the Delhi High Court also proves that the government is hell bent upon proving that these students were indulging in anti-India activities.
According to some BJP insiders the party believes that the JNU row is restricted to a few big cities and a handful of NGOs, civil society, intellectuals and English media. They argue that majority of India is not at all bothered about it and they are actually with the Centre on the JNU issue.
The BJP strategists seem to have decided to take the protestors head on and tell the people that they are actually exposing the "Communist–Jihadist nexus" to defame India.
After the first 2-3 days of dillydallying the Centre appears to be firm on the JNU issue. It is now insisting on a detailed debate in Parliament over the issue. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi told the media that the government would not allow him to make a speech in Parliament. The BJP claims that the opposition is running away from the debate fearing that it can backfire.
It is unlikely that the Budget Session would be without a showdown between the government and the opposition. After the presentation of Railways Budget and the General Budget, Parliament is likely to witness an everyday slugfest between the opposition and the ruling party.
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