won the confidence vote with a small but convincing
margin. It was 275 against 256 with 10 abstentions.
But the way three BJP MPs displayed bundles of
currency notes, amounting to Rs. 10 million, allegedly
given to them as the first/advance instalment,
supposedly received sometime last evening, of a
promised bribe of Rs. 90 million, in the late
afternoon before the Speaker in the house was
undoubtedly one of the darkest moments of
parliamentary democracy in India.
While the leaders of the ruling coalition and many
independent observers raised serious doubts about the
allegation and the theatrical way it was presented,
the opposition, cutting across ideological divides,
came down heavily on the Manmohan Singh government for
resorting to grossly unethical practices to win the
confidence vote.
The debates today were repeatedly interrupted. The
house had to be adjourned a number of times.
So much so that the Prime Minister was unable to read
out his concluding reply. He had to submit the copy of
his written speech to the Speaker.
He has reportedly made stinging attack against L K
Advani, the leader of the Opposition and also Praksh
Karat, the CPIM leader, without naming him.
The way the political equation stands radically
restructured with all the bitterness generated amongst
those who had been allies till the other day may bring
in spinechilling consequences in the days to come,
after the next general election in particular.
At least one young Muslim MP – from Andhra Pradesh
(Asaduddin Owaisi of the MIM) gave full vent to his
apprehensions and castigated the Left in pretty strong
terms. And another from Jammu and Kashmir (Omar
Abdullah of the National Conference) also spoke
forcefully in a somewhat similar vein.
