‘Floor coordination by the Opposition has been good’ 

One of the younger MPs, former Quiz Master DEREK O’BRIEN is among the more articulate members of the Rajya Sabha and a spokesman of the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) headed by Mamata Banerjee. Ahead of the launch of his first book on politics, he agreed to field a few questions put to him by ASHLIN MATHEW

What was the reason behind choosing Inside Parliament - views from the front row as the title of the book?

This is my first political book. For 25 years I compiled quiz and reference books. I have always enjoyed writing, was passionate about writing essays in school. So, I did not want to miss the opportunity of expressing myself through essays on political, social and economic issues. Quizzing was yesterday. Politics is today and tomorrow.

You have been an MP during both the UPA and the Modi-led NDA Government. What differences have you seen in the functioning of the Parliament?

Yes, my first three years as an opposition MP coincided with UPA 2. And from 2014 to 2017, I have been sitting on the opposition benches with the NDA-BJP members sitting across the aisle. Trinamool always raises people’s issues. We have always supported the Government when we believe policies are people centric. When they are not, we oppose. Vehemently. UPA 2 had its faults. We have serious disagreements on policy. Our view on Land Acquisition was very different from the Congress view. Yes, so we differed on many policies of the UPA. So be it. But the problem with the BJP is that they mock institutions, including Parliament. The PM knelt when entering the Parliament for the first time. But now that respect for Parliament is gone.

What is your assessment of Narendra Modi as a parliamentarian?

What can I say about a Parliamentarian, who pops into the Rajya Sabha for one hour every week!

Are you satisfied with the performance of the Opposition in the Parliament – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? Please elaborate about the BJP’s role before 2014 and others after 2014?

Every political party has its own ideology, they chart out their own programmes. In this context, the kind of floor coordination seen by 18 different parties has been good. The opposition has worked together, especially in the last one year, to coordinate strategy in Parliament. We must continue with this. To answer the 2nd part of the question, BJP were compulsive disrupters when they were sitting in the opposition benches. Now they are trying to be righteous and goody goody.

It is often suspected that the treasury and Opposition benches are playing out a charade. Please comment.

With the All India Trinamool Congress there is no charade. No match fixing. Mamata Banerjee has fought for the rights of the people for decades. Years of struggle, years of movements on behalf of the people. From Marichjhapi to Nandigram, from Singur to Netai… there is a long list of struggle. This is now a part of modern history. A 26-day hunger strike where she risked her life. Nothing came easy. She was brutally beaten by the Communists. 55,000 of our workers lost their lives. This is our legacy. We will never compromise.

Several BJP MPs now openly say that Rajya Sabha is redundant. The BJP and the RSS seem to have an agenda to do away with the upper House. What do you feel?

Nonsense. All big talk. The Rajya Sabha is very much a part of our vibrant democracy.

What has been your experience with the media? Is the coverage of Parliament adequate? How do DoorDarshan, Rajya Sabha TV and private news channels compare? What about the regional Bengali channels in your home state?

There are still a few in the media who are fearless. To those journalists and media houses we salute them. Sadly, so many media houses have become Government mouthpieces, controlled by the BJP. We need to find a solution to this.

Is the current Parliamentary system good for India? Do you feel the need to change the system?

Of-course we can always improve. But as a structure, for all the misgivings nothing beats our Parliamentary democracy.

(This first appeared in the weekly, National Herald on Sunday)