This entry to Media Watch focuses on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defense of the UPA government in parliament over cash for votes scandal. Sadly, none of our media has taken the effort to expose the hollowness of arguments forwarded by PM.
In his speech in parliament, PM Manmohan Singh among other things states
The allegations of bribery were investigated by a committee constituted by the 14th Lok Sabha. The Committee had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion of bribery.
Do the committee constituted by the 14th Lok Sabha reported that there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion of bribery?
Lets first understand the scope of the committee. This is defined in the Introduction and Procedure section of the report. It states
I, the Chairman of the Committee to Inquire into complaint made by some members regarding alleged offer of money to them in connection with voting on motion of confidence having been authorized by the Committee to submit the Report on their behalf, present this their Report to the Speaker.
It is amply clear that the committee was not setup to inquire in the entire issue of use of money for buying votes during motion of confidence. It was specifically setup to look into complains made by BJP MP’s Sarvashri Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora. So how can PM use findings of this committee with restricted mandate to conclude for all complains of “buying of votes”
Then what did committee conclude?
On the role of Sanjeev Saxena who is alleged to be an employee of Amar Singh- the person who has been charged of being a conduit for delivering the money to the three MP’s committee concluded
As regards Shri Sanjeev Saxena, the Committee are also constrained to observe that there are many loopholes and loose ends in his testimony. He conceded having given the money to the said three members on 22 August, 2008 at the residence of Shri Argal, as he could not have possibly denied the veracity of the tapes provided by CNN-IBN showing him delivering the money. The clarification sought to be given by him in this regard are not at all convincing to say the least.
Shri Saxena was a bribe giver wittingly or unwittingly. He, therefore, does not enjoy any immunity under article 105(2) of the Constitution. Evidently, he did not know that the members were whistle blowers. Hence, he could very well be giving bribe with a view to influencing the members in their parliamentary conduct. Several posers have come up before the Committee…On whose behest Shri Saxena was operating; if it was on behalf of Shri Amar Singh, as alleged—why did he go to BJP office at Ashoka Road—from where the bag of money is stated to have been loaded into his car. Was Saxena hijacked and coerced into completing an operation that had been aborted for a consideration?
The Committee, after taking stock of the situation in its entirety, are of the considered
view that the role and involvement of Shri Sanjeev Saxena in the matter needs to be further
investigated. Since the Committee do not have the wherewithal of an investigating agency,
it would be in the fitness of things if the matter is inquired into by an investigating agency
So unlike what PM stated in Parliament committee did conclude that bribery was given. and also it recommended that matter is to inquired into by an investigating agency. Only thing which committee did not find if “on whose behest he was operating”
In conclusion, it seems that PM is not only not stating the complete facts about the committee report but also using the report of a committee setup to inquire a narrow subject in different context.
It would be ridiculous to assume that what the 14th LS did is not the responsibility of the subsequent Government. If so, are we to understand that whatever a particular LS passes in terms of Budgets, subsidies, grants, tax reforms, price hikes etc. are not carried forward by the subsequent LS, regardless of it's political affiliations. Is it a constitutional clause to treat a particular LS's actions as null and void in the forthcoming one? If so then there is nothing more absurd that this.
ReplyDeleteThat the inefficient PM alongwith his dorks in the government, restrained by a white old miano, does nothing else but loot, rob and rape our country is needless to say. When lawmakers and lawkeepers themselves become lawbreakers, where will the common man like you and me go other than but despair!