New Delhi:
In its desperation to pass the Nuclear Liability Bill, did the government ignore its legislative duties in the monsoon session?
The Opposition says there can be no other reason why the government and its Bills had such a disastrous time. And on Wednesday the BJP blasted the government for poor coordination and complete disarray.
"The leadership of the government appears to be losing its grip on governance. In this session, there was no coordination within the government. One ministry stalled another ministry's work. Ministers worked to ensure their Bill got passed, we didn't see the government coming together to get the work done," said Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.
While CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri said, "The government in which ministers are only answerable to the US, such disasters will happen."
The government's showing was dismal as it was a divided House.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said no to 22 recommendations of the HRD standing committee of which Rahul Gandhi is a member. His Bill failed In Rajya Sabha, as Congressman Keshav Rao's attack was the most potent.
"Let every ministry sitting in this House first start respecting the Standing Committees because you (ministries) are accountable to this House," said K Keshav Rao, Congress MP.
An angry Kapil Sibal - underlined a divide - complained to the PM about poor floor coordination. "Yes, members of my party opposed the Bill," said Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister.
While the Parliamentary Affairs Minister threw up his hands all in public.
"My work is to manage but we'll have to bring consensus on the Bills," said Pawan Bansal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
Several other Bills faced political foes and enemy within.
Congress MPs opposed Home Minister P Chidambaram's version of the Enemy Property Bill
Waqf Bill, Anti Torture Bill, NDMC bill flopped
Agriculture Minister misread the SC's free food grain order
The Opposition virtually orchestrated the disarray. It stalled the House for five days over prices. BJP rocked Rajya Sabha over Chidambaram's saffron terror remark. Nuke Bill was heading for passing to the upper House.
The government panicked - ticked off its Home Minister. To keep Lalu and Mulayam on its side, the government okayed caste census and MP's salary hike. Worse, Winter Session may be no different, the Congress lacks the numbers in one of the Houses.
The government is operating with a huge handicap. It gets Bills passed in Lok Sabha, where it has the numbers but its numbers in Rajya Sabha are dicey. If it seeks help from Lalu and Mulayam it fears political arm twisting. The Opposition is enjoying this and literally turning the Rajya Sabha into a graveyard for government's legislative moves.