If the Maoists had not allowed the House to resume further, the government would have been forced to try to pass the budget amidst Maoists’ opposition in the parliament and that would have pushed the country towards confrontation. But the government also showed patience and wisdom not to push hard the main opposition party and the Maoists also, finally, reciprocated that goodwill. The parties have shown maturity to respect the views and concerns of both the majority and minority in the parliament. This is, indeed, a good sign. The lack of passage of budget for almost six months since it was tabled in the parliament had crippled the country financially. The government had no money to pay basic salary and it had already cut money going to essential services such as health and education. Since last month, the government reduced even grants provided on essential drugs used by children. Therefore, any further House disruption would have been a disaster for the country.
But this is only a temporary reprieve. Passage of budget is not the end of the present political stalemate, nor does it address the pressing problems confronting us. One thing is clear by now: The country can no longer afford continued disunity among the major parties, let alone an open confrontation. Writing the constitution is important and we must write it within the May 2010 deadline but even basic governance issues can no longer be resolved without an understanding among the parties. It’s up to the parties to find a common ground but agreement they must reach. The parties should remember that they no longer have the luxury of time.
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