07-25-2008, 01:37 AM
On July 22
July 22 will go down in the history of Indian Parliament as a remarkable day. MPs brandishing cash, cross-voting, mud-slinging and what not, marked the debate on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. The biggest loser was the BJP which once again proved its inability to offer an alternative â it could not even hold its flock together. The Congress, already gasping for breath, hasnât won either. It will now be hostage to smaller parties. We already find the Sethusamudram controversy rearing its head.
Saurabh Sinha,
Bhilai
* * *
It is just that more number of MPs wished the UPA government to continue, for reasons best known to them. Many of them did not even know what the nuclear deal was all about. At least one MP was honest enough to say he did not understand it. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not take his governmentâs victory as the countryâs approval for the nuclear deal. It came at a huge cost â accommodating convicted MPs, pandering to corporates, etc.
N.G. Varadan,
Tirupati
* * *
Even important leaders did not speak anything on the nuclear deal, which was the topic of discussion. L.K. Advani and Chandrababu Naidu opposed it for the sake of opposing it. And the cross-voting proved that the Congress succeeded in luring some BJP MPs. To sum it up, the session was a big political game played by all parties and somehow the Congress emerged the winner.
Pailla Sucharita Reddy,
Kakinada
* * *
After every election, political pundits and media claim that Indian democracy has matured, the voters have become intelligent, and so on. All such claims were proved pathetically wrong by both the ruling combine and the Opposition.
P.S. Shetty,
Mangalore
* * *
The confidence vote moved by Dr. Singh proved the political mantra that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Almost all the parties were seen in their true colours. They were least bothered about washing dirty linen in public.
S.R. Badrinarayanan,
Chennai
Shameful
<b>
It was really shameful and shocking to see three BJP MPs carrying money to the floor of the House and displaying it. They could have met the Speaker in his chamber or elsewhere to complain about the bribe allegedly offered to them to abstain from voting.</b>
Vanita Garg,
Panchkula
* * *
<b>
The people will never get to know the truth â whether the BJP MPs were actually bribed or not. </b>But the public display of money in Parliament and its impact will further erode the peopleâs faith in the elected representatives, and add to their indifference.
Ramadoss Magesh,
Chennai
* * *
<b>
The nuclear deal may or may not be good for India but its fallout has tarnished Parliament and brought shame to our democracy.
</b>
R. Krishnan,
Malakoff, France
* * *
The unexpected money display in Parliament brought shame to the largest democracy in the world. I wonder how much of the total money offered was brought to Parliament and why the BJP MPs did not expose the offer before the Prime Ministerâs speech.
Rephin Kamal,
Chennai
* * *
Was the display of cash a shame on the MPs? No. It was a shame on us, you and me, who voted for them without ascertaining their credentials or on frivolous considerations. Let us identify the MPs and keep them out forever, even if it means wasting our vote. I hope the ânone of the aboveâ option will be made available to voters soon.
B.H. Prabhakar,
Kolhapur
* * *
Notwithstanding the outcome of the trust vote, it was sad and shameful to see the deteriorating standards and quality of parliamentary debates. Many of the MPs did not do their homework on such an important issue. Many, I am sure, did not even go through the text of the nuclear deal. It is we, the voters, who are responsible for electing such people as our representatives. If things in Parliament have to change, we should change.
Narasimha Reddy,
Hyderabad
July 22 will go down in the history of Indian Parliament as a remarkable day. MPs brandishing cash, cross-voting, mud-slinging and what not, marked the debate on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. The biggest loser was the BJP which once again proved its inability to offer an alternative â it could not even hold its flock together. The Congress, already gasping for breath, hasnât won either. It will now be hostage to smaller parties. We already find the Sethusamudram controversy rearing its head.
Saurabh Sinha,
Bhilai
* * *
It is just that more number of MPs wished the UPA government to continue, for reasons best known to them. Many of them did not even know what the nuclear deal was all about. At least one MP was honest enough to say he did not understand it. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not take his governmentâs victory as the countryâs approval for the nuclear deal. It came at a huge cost â accommodating convicted MPs, pandering to corporates, etc.
N.G. Varadan,
Tirupati
* * *
Even important leaders did not speak anything on the nuclear deal, which was the topic of discussion. L.K. Advani and Chandrababu Naidu opposed it for the sake of opposing it. And the cross-voting proved that the Congress succeeded in luring some BJP MPs. To sum it up, the session was a big political game played by all parties and somehow the Congress emerged the winner.
Pailla Sucharita Reddy,
Kakinada
* * *
After every election, political pundits and media claim that Indian democracy has matured, the voters have become intelligent, and so on. All such claims were proved pathetically wrong by both the ruling combine and the Opposition.
P.S. Shetty,
Mangalore
* * *
The confidence vote moved by Dr. Singh proved the political mantra that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Almost all the parties were seen in their true colours. They were least bothered about washing dirty linen in public.
S.R. Badrinarayanan,
Chennai
Shameful
<b>
It was really shameful and shocking to see three BJP MPs carrying money to the floor of the House and displaying it. They could have met the Speaker in his chamber or elsewhere to complain about the bribe allegedly offered to them to abstain from voting.</b>
Vanita Garg,
Panchkula
* * *
<b>
The people will never get to know the truth â whether the BJP MPs were actually bribed or not. </b>But the public display of money in Parliament and its impact will further erode the peopleâs faith in the elected representatives, and add to their indifference.
Ramadoss Magesh,
Chennai
* * *
<b>
The nuclear deal may or may not be good for India but its fallout has tarnished Parliament and brought shame to our democracy.
</b>
R. Krishnan,
Malakoff, France
* * *
The unexpected money display in Parliament brought shame to the largest democracy in the world. I wonder how much of the total money offered was brought to Parliament and why the BJP MPs did not expose the offer before the Prime Ministerâs speech.
Rephin Kamal,
Chennai
* * *
Was the display of cash a shame on the MPs? No. It was a shame on us, you and me, who voted for them without ascertaining their credentials or on frivolous considerations. Let us identify the MPs and keep them out forever, even if it means wasting our vote. I hope the ânone of the aboveâ option will be made available to voters soon.
B.H. Prabhakar,
Kolhapur
* * *
Notwithstanding the outcome of the trust vote, it was sad and shameful to see the deteriorating standards and quality of parliamentary debates. Many of the MPs did not do their homework on such an important issue. Many, I am sure, did not even go through the text of the nuclear deal. It is we, the voters, who are responsible for electing such people as our representatives. If things in Parliament have to change, we should change.
Narasimha Reddy,
Hyderabad