It seems that there are more valuers in Parliament than in the rest of the country. During the parliamentary debate over the privatisation of Bharat Aluminium Corporation Ltd (Balco), lawyers like Messrs Kapil Sibal and Ram Jethmalani argued their case against the government as if they had spent their lives in board rooms rather than court rooms. Of course, there was also that man for all seasons, Pranab Mukherjee, whose political stature keeps changing with his proximity to 10 Janpath. Not to be left behind was the leftist brigade, electorally insignificant but vocally the strongest.Now, one need not be a rabid reactionary to discount the views of the leftists who espouse every cause that is economically unviable. Similarly, worthies like Mr Jethmalani can be for or against anything that does or does not suit their purpose at that point in time. But what about the Congress, the party which initiated economic reforms in the first place? Have Congress leaders convinced themselves that their place is permanently in the opposition benches? The Balco controversy seems to suggest just this.
For liberalisation is not the policy of the BJP government; it has been government policy since 1991. It has been consistently followed by all parties and coalitions, be it the BJP, the United Front or the Congress.
Concomitantly, socialism and protectionism have been the policies of the opposition, irrespective of its composition. The people of India have got so accustomed to political hypocrisy that few even notice, never mind take exception to, the changing stances of their esteemed leaders.
In fact, had the Congress been in power and sold Balco for even Rs 2,000 crore against the present Rs 551.5 crore, the BJP would also have raised a stink, hurling all kinds of accusations at the divestment minister, the prime minister and anybody even remotely concerned with the deal. The divestment minister would have defended the deal with as much ardour as Mr Arun Shourie has done. And the man in the street would have dismissed the entire drama as the usual theatrics.
What makes the Congress stance different this time is the fact that it has not only lambasted the Balco deal but the entire philosophy of privatisation. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi could not have made his shrill threats without the implicit or explicit sanction of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. This despite the fact that privatisation, by clearing the mess created by hundreds of PSUs and by reviving investor confidence, will help not only the nation but also the Congress - if and when it comes back to power. This should not be a remote possibility, for the Congress remains the principal opposition party, and the BJP government is touching new heights of incompetence and venality every day.
Ironically, it is the leader of the party herself who seems to believe in the longevity of the present government.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
