Yet again Congress found new pretext for boycotting the Parliament. The budget session is gearing up for a complete washout. Congress is miffed yet again. Yesterday Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the motion of thanks for Presidential address on Jan 31^st lashed out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Singh earned the remarks for his uncategorical allegorical references to demonetization by calling it “organized loot” and “legalized plunder”. Singh further described implementation of demonetization as a “monumental failure”. Ironically it was during his regime that country’s resources and finances were marauded. The malaise of corruption wreaked the emerging economy. The humongous losses accrued to treasury were simply dismissed as mere zeroes.

Modi’s unapologetically remarked at the tenure of the Singh saying the “in this country, perhaps there will be hardly anyone from the economic field who wielded significant influence over country’s financial affairs for half of country’s 70 years of independence. Out of 70 years, for 30-35 years, he has been directly associated with financial decisions. So many scams occurred… we politicians have lot to learn from Dr Sahab. So much happened, there is not a single blot on him. Dr. Sahab is the only person who knows the art of bathing in a bath room with a rain coat on”.

Modi who opened discussion on the floor stressing the need for curbing black money and corruption made a swipe at Singh. He began by saying “Manmohan Singh ji had delivered a speech here…Recently a book was released in which Manmohan Singh ji had written a foreword. Initially I thought he is a renowned economist and the book will have his contribution. But then I realized it was written by somebody else and he had only written the foreword. In his speech, also I felt the same”. This has triggered uproar among the Congress. Modi took a dig and added “the word I did not even utter, that too they have understood”.  Congress party leaders raised slogans, interrupted the House and soon staged a walk out. Clearly, Congress is outraged by the “rain coat” jibe. They have threatened to boycott the Parliament till Prime minister apologizes. Opposition too denounced Modi’s remarks about his predecessor as distasteful. But Congress indignation might have few takers as it will be labelled as deliberate effort to stall proceedings of Parliament. Congress for long reveled in “higher than thou attitude” and chided harsh scrutiny of their governance. But never refrained from making pugnacious comments on opposition.

Manmohan Singh was revered for his phenomenal economic reforms that ushered India towards globalization. Despite his illustrious academic credentials, Singh will go down the history as the most incompetent and despicable Prime Minister. During his two stints, as Prime Minister, colossal corruption marred the country. Coal scam, 2G scam, Common Wealth games scam were carried right under his nose but turned a blind eye to the listless number of financial scandals. In the decade long UPA tenure, he remained a puppet and carried out the orders issued by the high command.  Congress for long took umbrage under Singh’s integrity and credentials. Singh sat all the investigations by authorities and literally decamped all the government institutions probing various scams. While there is no direct evidence of his collusion with wrong doers, it is highly improbable to assume that Singh is not aware of the large scale financial scandals.

Modi’s audacious remarks, “if you cross the limits of decorum, then you should have courage to listen to the response. We have the capacity to play in the same coin. We do so within the limits of decorum and boundaries of the constitution. They don’t want to accept defeat in any form. How long will it continue?” Soon after Congress staged a walk-out which will open a new chapter in Indian democracy. While Congress alleges that Modi took Parliamentary discourse to the “lowest level”, it should rather be ashamed of unsavory comments of Pramod Tiwari on demonetization, “kisi sabhya desh ne yeh nahi kiya; jisne ne kiya hai unke naam itihaas mein hai, pehle Gaddafi, doosra Mussolini, Hitler aur chautha hai PM Modi”. For that matter, even Rahul Gandhi’s khoon ki dalali comment on surgical strikes was appalling. It is rather amusing to watch Rahul jumping into fray to criticize Modi calling his scathing attack “shameful” and saying that “when a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor, years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament and the nation”. Maybe he should better be asked: was his act of tearing the ordinance in a Press Club with impunity elevated the dignity of Parliament? Congress’s new found respect for Singh is rather intriguing.

Sonia Gandhi’s “maut ka saudagar” and “Zeher ki Kheti” references are still afresh in people’s minds. For that matter, was the uninterrupted spiteful background commentary by a Congress leader throughout Modi’s speech until they staged walk-out any sanctimonious? Manmohan Singh’s immoderate comments at a press conference referring to Modi as one “who presided over massacre of citizens” and added “without going into credentials of anyone, I think it will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the PM”. It would be an understatement to say that India had become a banana republic under Singh. The dynasty had held Indian democracy under siege of for long and claim to be more equal than others. The grand old party has the least credibility to lecture on according respect to former Prime Ministers or party leaders. Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao’s body wasn’t even allowed to pass near the party office while Party President Sitaram Kesari was locked up in a bathroom. Reality check and gutsy rebuttals by Modi has clearly rattled the Congress whose depleted electoral strength has become cause of concern. Congress is perhaps, feeling the heat of a tenuous opposition.

Parliament is regarded as temple of democracy and exchange of barbs might be necessary for conducting the business. But there should be level-headed playing. Criticism must be taken in a right stride. Every elected representative has right to voice out his opinions without fear or favor. Crying wolf would eventually erode the credentials of a political party in democracy. After Congress walk out, Modi broached about the reluctance of Indira Gandhi despite Justice Wanchoo committee’s recommended demonetization of higher currency. Fearing electoral drubbing Indira Gandhi refused to roll out demonetization. Modi cited the references from the Unfinished Innings written by former home minister Godbole. Modi also reiterated that Communist leaders Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjit on different occasions batted for decommissioning of higher currency notes. He even apprised the Parliament of Jyoti Basu’s speech on Aug 26^th 1972 where he strongly pitched for implementing the recommendations of Wanchoo Committee report of 1970. In his speech, he alleged that black money has become lifeline of Indira Gandhi’s government and hence she was unwilling to bring about demonetization and hence report of the committee wasn’t tabled in parliament. In another address on Sep 4^th 1972, Jyoti Basu on the floor of house reiterated dire consequences of proliferating parallel economy and unabashedly pronounced that her regime has become “government of black money, for black money and by black money”. Modi also referred to Harkishan Singh Surjit’s speech on 27^th Sep, 1981 who once again questioned the intentions of government in curbing black money and called for demonetization of high value currency. Certainly, this kind of stinging attack has upset Congress which was least prepared to hear facts which are extremely harsh but true.  Modi’s temerity to call a spade a spade had punctured bloated ego of the dynasty and its sycophants.