Politics of fast

The opposition Congress Party observed fast to express sympathy for Dalits, which the nation witnessed how they made a mockery of it. BJP appears to have realized that Dalits are not happy with its government at the Centre. So, to please them they decided to follow Mahatama Gandhi’s, the Father of the nation, belief, and conviction by observing fast to protest against the wash-out of Parliament by the opposition Congress party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Council of Ministers, MPs, MLAs, leaders, and workers went on fast today in their respective areas or constituencies to protest the wastage of 127 hours and some minutes of parliamentary time by the opposition parties. BJP alleges that Congress is still not in a position to digest the humiliation in one election after another. That is why it is still trying to establish its dominance by disrupting the Parliament. It is good to move by the BJP to make the people aware of the parliamentary behaviour of MPs and MLAs belonging to opposition parties. But the ruling BJP also cannot be absolved of all faults. Their MPs and MLAs also cannot be given clean cheat and only opposition members will not be held responsible for washing out of Parliament and state assemblies by the ugly behavior of its members. The clapping cannot be possible by single hand. It requires both the palms to strike each other. It is also not correct to say that BJP had never been in opposition role in the past. It has also a long experience to be in opposition. Here it would also be better if it had introspected itself about its role when it was in opposition. It also created hurdles, caused disruptions, staged walk-outs and its members rushed into the well of the House over trifle. To run Parliament smoothly, the ruling political party has a greater role to play than the opposition. It is its responsibility to take initiative in running the Parliament swiftly. BJP blames Congress for all the ills in the country while the latter attacked the former for taking the country backward. Both are mostly engaged in the blame game. They are only busy with scoring political points over each other. Today's fast of the BJP is also aimed at assuaging the hurt feeling of Dalits because of the dilution in SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act by the Supreme Court. Mahatama Gandhi observed fast for the benefit of the people against the British misrule. He was also considered to be very close to Dalits. He had space in his heart for them and always stood in their support. The role of the opposition is to oppose the ruling bench on the basis of the importance of the issue. It must be constructive. Opposition for the sake of opposition must not be done. Fast is also not new to the country. First of all, Mahatma Gandhi used fast as a weapon against the mighty British rule. As he was opposed to violence, he observed fast many time in the recent past. The political class or party of today’s only follow him to win people’s favour with the nearing of elections