Between those who had been watching the proceedings in the Lok Sabha on TV on July 22, there was one who was eager to join a political party. But when he met me the next day, he said that he had changed his mind after seeing the drama staged in Parliament.

An MP said he was bribed Rs 1 crore to abstain from voting and pandemonium followed. From the treasury benches, Lalu Yadav, Minister of Railways threatened the House that if his party members were interrupted while speaking, a Mahabharat would start. Those who know Lalu, know well that he is capable of creating a Kurukshetra in Parliament. About half-a-dozen convicted MPs were allowed to come from Tihar and other jails to attend the Parliament session. This, and many other incidents on July 22, changed my friend's mind who concluded that there was nothing honourable in becoming a Member of Parliament. MPs do not consider their fellow members honourable, nor do the people.

In the 1960s, the conduct and decisions of the Italian Parliament were controlled by the Mafia. They decided who would contest elections and who would not, who would win or lose. Such was the grip of the vicious Mafia over the legislature that the Italian Parliament turned totally impotent. Incidentally, the Italian Parliament passed a resolution to constitute a committee with the objective of totally eradicating the unholy nexus between the Mafia and politicians. The brilliant Chairman of the Committee found a way to do it and implemented it at one go. More than 300 Mafia members were arrested, sent to jail and their properties confiscated. A large number of politicians were also debarred from contesting elections and several were sent to jail for their complicity with the Mafia.

In the 1960s, the conduct and decisions of the Italian Parliament were controlled by the Mafia. They decided who would contest elections and who would not, who would win or lose. Such was the grip of the vicious Mafia over the legislature that the Italian Parliament turned totally impotent. Incidentally, the Italian Parliament passed a resolution to constitute a committee with the objective of totally eradicating the unholy nexus between the Mafia and politicians. The brilliant Chairman of the Committee found a way to do it and implemented it at one go. More than 300 Mafia members were arrested, sent to jail and their properties confiscated. A large number of politicians were also debarred from contesting elections and several were sent to jail for their complicity with the Mafia.

In India, politicians as a class and MPs and Ministers as individuals have become an object of hatred and scorn. A wide spread cynicism is prevailing among the masses against them. Their huge belly has always been a matter of delight for cartoonists. July 22, 2008 was fated to happen, if not now, then sometime in future. Any coalition Government at the Centre can run for five years but not the one, which has Marxists in it. It is inbuilt in the Marxist character to betray. Dozens of United Fronts with Marxists have existed in Eastern European countries only to be betrayed by them.

In West Bengal Congress stalwart Ajay Mukerjee had a taste of a coalition Government with them. He could not adjust to the Communist tactics of devouring a partner. In the first week of the UPA Governance, I had assertively written that the Left would not allow this Government to complete its full term for two reasons: first, the Comrades were to contest Assembly Elections against the Congress in West Bengal and Kerala, which they could not do so while supporting the UPA Government at the Centre; secondly, they are habitual ditchers, as the moment arrives they stab in the back. No counts can be kept, but Karats and Yechuries have vowed umpteen number of times that the UPA Government would last its full term while simultaneously creating an atmosphere to pull it down.

There are reasons for it. The Congress and Communists are not compatible. Communists have territorial loyalties. Communists believe that India is like a conglomerate of a large number of nationalities. On the contrary, the Congress believes India is one united nation. Communists always believed and continue to believe in violence. Congress has been votary of non-violence. The breaking point came because of the Marxists' loyalty to China, which does not want any kind of understanding between India and the US. BJP's opposition to nuclear energy agreement was on the basis of its curtailing India's nuclear sovereignty.

I was convinced that whatever may be the number, the Congress would win the vote of confidence, not because they were right or wrong, but because they used huge money power to convert minority into majority. One may recall the time when the Narsimha Rao Government was facing a no-trust motion and JMM MPs were bribed hugely. Similar tactics were also applied to other gullible members and the Narsimha Rao Government survived. A Government survives if more than half MPs present in the House vote for it and, therefore, they managed to get a large number of MPs to abstain from voting to facilitate the majority figures.

Can one imagine that the very same Congress resorted to the same game -- bribing MPs, encouraging defections and cross-voting and begging criminals convicted for heinous crimes languishing in jails -- under Jawaharlal Nehru to get the majority votes? Accountability, morality and cleanliness in public life have reached its nadir. In Italy, the situation was same when the Italian Parliament was weighed under public pressure to cleanse the politics and polity and make politicians accountable. Can we embark on such an exercise in our country?

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, July 27, 2008