New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI): The BJP on Thursday rejected the Congress’ allegation that it is “splitting” parties to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament for the passage of the constitutional amendment bill on delimitation in the Monsoon session beginning July 20.
The ruling party asserted that leaders choosing to leave the opposition and align with different parties while adhering to the anti-defection law could not be termed illegal.
The ruling party also accused the opposition of taking a stand against delimitation to protect the interests of “dynastic families”.
The BJP’s response came after Congress secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that the home minister has “split parties” and is looking to manage a two-thirds majority through “cunningness”, which, he said, would be an insult to the Constitution and such a majority “blot on democracy”.
Ramesh added that the opposition has learnt that the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) is making efforts to bring back the Delimitation Bill. The government failed to secure a two-thirds majority on April 17 and suffered a significant setback. It now wants to reintroduce the Bill, he said.
Responding to the allegations, BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said democracy has always been “a game of numbers” and rejected the charge that the BJP is acquiring numbers through illegal means.
“Jairam Ramesh ji has levelled the allegation that the BJP is illegally breaking parties to gain a two-thirds majority. This is absolutely false,” Sinha told PTI.
He said democracy runs on numbers and it has always been a game of numbers. “There was a time in 1996 when our 13-day government did not survive because we did not have the numbers. Thirty years later, time has come full circle. There are so many opposition parties which are completely disillusioned and disgruntled with the regressive and obstructive politics of the Congress party,” he added.
Sinha said all political realignments that have taken place within the ambit of the anti-defection law are legal.
“They want to break away from the opposition side and want to align with the BJP. But in doing so, we have ensured that all the provisions of the anti-defection law are maintained, all of them are respected,” he said.
“So, if keeping the provisions of the anti-defection law intact, 22 members of the TMC break away and form a separate party or align themselves with a different party, if Uddhav Thackeray’s party breaks away and merges with another party, how are we to blame for it? It is part of a democratic process,” he said.
He said there was a time when the Congress had the numbers but today the BJP has the numbers.
“So to say that we have mustered these numbers illegally is absolutely farcical. It shows the despondency of the Congress party,” Sinha added.
Rejecting the Congress’ opposition to delimitation, he alleged that the party fears the exercise will weaken the hold of political dynasties.
“Jairam Ramesh says that they will steadfastly oppose delimitation. This only shows the entitled mindset of the Congress party. They are anti-youth and anti-women,” he said.
He said the exercise has long been due and will create opportunities for new entrants into politics. The last time delimitation took place was in 1975. So, it is due now, he said.
“With a nearly 50 per cent increase in the total Lok Sabha and assembly seats, imagine the kind of opportunities it is going to create for young aspirants in politics from non-dynastic families, from non-political families,” he said.
