Budget and boycott

Despite the presentation of our annual budget having become largely ritualistic, and even after conceding that the document no longer serves as an instrument of fiscal policy, a boycott of it, by the entire opposition in Parliament, for the first time ever in our independent history, is an event of the most exceptional seriousness. It throws into sharp relief some nagging worries: what are the politicians up to? Or, what has Parliament come to? Which is an anxiety about the role and function of our Parliament, in providing the necessary leadership to the nation, and, in educating public opinion about the great issues of the day. On which particular aspect, Walter Bagehot has some extremely pertinent things to say: 'The greatest teacher of all in, Parliament, the great elevator of the country — in so far as Parliament elevates — must be the prime minister. He has an influence, an authority, a facility in giving a great tone to the discussion, or a mean tone to it which no other MP has."

And that is where the nexus between the budget and its boycott lies: the connecting link is the prime minister, his utterances, his public conduct. That is also why it is a matter of such great disappointment that the leader of our government and the principal servant of Parliament has chosen to interpret his task in a manner that finds voice in a 'mean tone', in this deeply troubling 'ha-ha' style of conducting the affairs of our state.

Of course, the prime minister is at perfect liberty to call what names he chooses, or indeed, to paint his political adversaries in the darkest of hues. That choice is entirely his, but then in the making of it, a responsibility for the conse-quences is also his and his alone. There would be considerable justification then, in closely examining the conduct of our 'loyal' opposition too: and wondering whether they ought to be so hyper-sensitive to the smallness of the field of awareness of our prime minister, or of his obvious triviality; the by now patent pettiness of his thought, and demeanour. Still, it is difficult to fault the opposition on their reaction.