NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is making desperate all empts to enlist support of certain opposition parties before facing the Indian parliament later this month even as the corruption charges against him have vitiated political atmosphere in the country. In the event of his failure to ensure a majority behind him, the prime minister may resign from the past before July 26 when the session begins or during the parliament session.
The main opposition party the BJ.P, has already announced its plan to censure the government mainly on the issue of the alleged involvement of Rao in the share scandal. The other major non Congress (I) formation a loose federation of Communist groups and the middle-of-the-road Janata Dal finds it difficult this time to bail out the prime minister without facing the liability of having to live with the charge of being supporters of corruption. That is why the Communist component of this formation is trying to pressurize the prime minister to step down and face the joint parliamentary committees going into the securities scandal and possibly to get its clearance, before reentering his past.
A series of charges leveled by Share brokers Harshad Mehta against Rao for accepting Rs 1 Crore from him as a bribe and later helping him in many, ways has already put the prime minister on the defensive. He has not been able to convincingly deny the charges. Yet another embarrassment has come with a former member of the central board of direct taxes, P.K. Gupta, alleging that the board was not permitted by minister of state for finance and the finance secretary to proceed speedily against Harshad Mehta in tax avoidance enquires against him.
The J.P.C has already sent questions to prime minister’s aid R.K. Khandereas a contact man for Sunil Mittal, and seven others have their version of the Harshad Mehta charges. These proceedings may eventually lend the committee to Summon Rao himself for questioning in connection with the charges.
Since the parliament is likely to make the charges against Rao a major political agenda in the coming weeks, the prime minister has limited options available to him. He may either have to ensure a majority support for him or resign and order midterm elections. There is little likelihood of his bowing out of office gracefully in favor of someone else to be chosen as leader of the ruling party.
The political uncertainty has set in the country with stock exchanges presenting a depressing Scenario. The much awaited reshuffle of the cabinet, too, has been postponed for a few weeks. Mainly because the prime minister would like to see the outcome of the forthcoming session of the parliament.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 16, 1993
