The Lok Sabha’s Budget session started yesterday on a stormy note with non-Congress parties, including the ruling UPA’s allies DMK and Trinamool Congress, slamming the hike in petrol and diesel prices and demanding a roll back, which was rejected by the government.

The most vociferous critic of the fuel price hike was the DMK member T R Baalu. He was more strident in his criticism of the decision than any other member, saying he strongly condemned it. "This government is not a unitary government but is supported by DMK and Trinamool Congress. It (hike in prices) is not at all good. It should have been discussed with party leaders as also in the Cabinet," Baalu said.

He didn’t stop at that. "I strongly condemn the act. It should not recur. I am saying this as a close friend of Congress," he said adding that it was "nowhere justifiable" as the action has come a day before the Budget Session was to start. T R Balu added, "It is an alarming situation that the government headed by Manmohan Singh and supported by Sonia Gandhi and 'Kalaignar' (Karunanidhi) (is) taking such a decision... (It) is not at all good. It should have been at least discussed with party leaders, if not in Cabinet."

Baalu’s comments bring out several issues. First and foremost, can a coalition Government take such decisions of far-reaching consequences without consulting and obtaining a consensus from the alliance partners? Secondly, should not the Government have shown the least expected courtesy of discussing the issue with party leaders? Is not the Government expected to at least given an opportunity to the Cabinet to discuss the matter? And, finally, was it proper for the Government to have announced the hike a day before the Budget session was to commence?

The Government has to answer all these questions since DMK is an important and major constituent of the coalition. Moreover, those in the ruling party at the Centre can ill afford to ignore the DMK leader’s very recent pronouncement on State autonomy.

HR