The Great Indian Number Game
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Would you believe me if I tell you that the future of much talk about Indo-US Nuclear Deal depends on convicted Criminals? It may sound unbelievable; however, the fate of present Government of India depends upon in whose favor 20 Members of Parliament (which include many jailed MPs convicted in serous criminal cases like Murders) will caste their votes in the confidence motion which is scheduled to be held on 22nd July in Parliament.
After the withdrawal of support by CPM on the issue of Nuclear Deal, the Government is trying hard to save it from fall. In the same vein all opposition parties, despite their political differences, are also trying their best to defeat this government in the vote of confidence.
The support of 272 members is essential to form a Government in a Parliament of 542 (at present) members. As of now, the Government has the support of 256 members whereas the opposition has the support of 266 MPs. However there are 20 members of parliament who are still undecided on their voting preference. This group of 20 members comprises members from some are very small regional parties and some independent MPs. There are many MPs in this list who are proven convicts in the court of law and some of them even are facing life time punishment right now. However, the compulsion of number game has made all these 20 MPs super VIPs right now. As of now , horse-trading is in full swing. Money, prestige and ministerial posts - all are being offered to these MPs by both the groups of Government and opposition. Everybody is trying to take maximum mileage from this situation.
This is the truth of great Indian democracy. No matter which party comes in power, no matter what kind of beneficial agreement the government intends to make with other countries and no matter how important our national interests are - in the ultimate analysis everything boils down to a number game. If you have the numbers, you can play the game by making your own rules.
Ironically, the government is finding it extremely difficult to save its face in the coming vote of confidence. There have been reports of many rebel MPs who will vote against the government defying the whip of their respective parties.
If the government falls because of this number game, the main culprit will be the Nuclear Deal. That will be very ironic. In a recent survey conducted by an Indian news channel, only 2% people in India consider Nuclear Deal as an important issue. On the other hand 43% people considered the increasing inflation as the most important issue that affects the common man. It is clear that the government has taken a very big risk by putting its own survival at stake on a non-issue like nuclear deal. Probably the Congress failed to read the mood of the people who are least concerned with a matter (the nuclear deal) which will never affects them directly. What people are concerned about inflation, the growing prices of essential commodities - issues that affects them directly.
Though I am not a supporter of Congress and very critical of its many policies, I still feel that the stand taken by Congress on nuclear deal is right as this deal will immensely benefit India in many ways. The only reason the deal is being opposed by opposition is because of their own parochial self-interest which has nothing to do with the deal.
It’ll be interesting to see what happen on 22nd July. My personal vote is with Government J 
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Dr D.S.Pradhan said,
Wrote on July 26, 2008 @ 5:59 am
The following is a copy of my letter sent for publication in The Times of India.Most probably it will not be published as it may not meet the standards of TOI or it is too long.But I shall be grateful if some of the readers of this blogg take note of the views expressed herewith and respond.
Regards.D.S.Pradhan-26-7-08
To
My Times ,My Voice ,
c/o Edit Page Editor ,The Times of India,
D.N.Road ,Mumbai 400001
Dear Sir/Madam,
Like everyone else I was also glued to the Television(on the channels “Times Now” and “CNN-IBN”) for watching the Parliamentary Debate on July 21st and July 22nd on the Confidence Vote.Towards the end of this historical debate ,the dramatic display of wads of currency notes (bribery money) by three BJP M.P.s had however brought disgrace to our democratic tradition and our Parliamentary System.However, fortunately the Government won the Trust Vote. You had aptly chosen to reproduce in the Edit Page of your July 23rd edition a quote of the US essayist Agnes Repplier”Democracy teases us… “.Also the Editorial “A necessary victory” succinctly emphasized the importance of the success of the Government in the Trust Vote floor test..
In spite of a timely and thought-provoking Editorial , I thought something was missing ,especially, your views on the very impressive speeches of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Foreign Minister and others. The speech by the opposition leader ,however, was ,as the TOI report rightly commented, not only lackluster but irksome because of his personal jibes on the nikkamma(impotent) P.M. This was effectively countered in P.M.’s written response(for instance: “change your astrologer”) submitted at the end of the debate(as he could not deliver his mandatory reply to the debate because of deliberate and systematic heckling by the opposing M.Ps).
What surprised me was that the TOI did not graphically cover in its July 23rd edition the very cogent arguments brought out by Mr Chidambaran in his eloquent speech,as well as the absence your expert and erudite critique on his and other very fine speeches.. In fact a separate editorial would have been in place. Certainly ,your esteemed newspaper is known for its unbiased and balanced editorials to readers like me for the past more than six decades.Hence we cannot blame you for deliberate evasion.. .I was rather disappointed ,therefore, not to find any critical analysis this time in the TOI..I hence went out of my home in the evening to search for other newspapers ,like Indian Express,the Hindu ,DNA and the Marathi dailies Loksatta and Maharashtra Times. The Loksatta’s Editorial of July 23rd edition titled (as can be translated from Marathi to English) “The downfall of an unholy alliance” was perhaps the best commentary on the July 21st –July 22nd debate amongst those of the daily newspapers available in Mumbai and adjoining cities .The editorial castigated the BJP’s arguments and dishonest conduct in no uncertain terms and so also the die-hard Left who attempted to derail the Government to thwart any kind of truck with the US..I do hope TOI comes out with a Summary of the editorials/reports from different newspapers/ magazines on this memorable event notwithstanding the ugly scenes at its fag end. .
D.S.Pradhan
July 25th 2008
————————————————————————————————————Dr.D.S.Pradhan,B.Sc ,B.Sc(Tech),M.Sc(Tech),Ph.D.
Retired Scientist from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Res.Address:Flat 13,Sarovar ,Sector 9 A,Vashi,Navi Mumbai-400703
Tel No. 2 766 5992
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