Taking cue from the Prime Minister, the BJP-Samata combine, which is badly placed in the electoral battle in Bihar is trying to derail the electoral process. The Samata Party president and defence minister, George Fernandes who is seeking reelection from Nalanda constituency, finding the going tough, is raking up fictitious issues. After their complaint of "bogus ballot boxes" were found to be untrue, they have now sought to level another allegation, of the printing of "excess ballot papers" for the constituencies of Nalanda and Brah from where Mr. Fernandes and his Samata colleague Nitish Kumar respectively are seeking re-election. Not content with this, Mr. Fernandes in a letter to the Election Commission has alleged that the Bihar government has entered into a criminal conspiracy with the government of West Bengal, which incidentally owns the press, for the printing of excess ballot papers. To substantiate his allegation, Mr. Fernandes dragged in the Director of the Intelligence Bureau.

The Election Commission while taking cognizance of the complaint, sent a team to the Saraswati Printing Press in Calcutta. The Election Commission, while realising the sensitivity of the state of Bihar had taken extra precautions. It is with the view of avoiding any such malpractice that it had ordered the printing of ballot papers for some constituencies in Bihar, outside the state. The Commission however, found no discrepancy in the number of ballot papers being printed and the allegation to be baseless. In an unprecedented order the Commission indicted the defence minister. It said that "The Commission particularly takes grave note of the fact that Shri Fernandes, who apart from being a candidate, also happens to be the Minister for Defence, has by his own written admission, sought to use the DIB (Director, Intelligence Bureau) to disturb the Constitutional electoral process". It should be noted that the Home Secretary on behalf of the Director, Intelligence has already denied having made any observation on the printing of excess ballot papers. More disturbing is the enigmatic silence maintained by the Prime Minister. Since the IB reports directly to the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee is duty bound to confirm the veracity of Mr. Fernandes's charge. Any silence on the part of the acting Prime Minister is only tantamount to his being a party to the conspiracy to derail the electoral process from being completed in Bihar.

It is not only the Bihar state government that was being targetted by the BJP-Samata combine. The very office of the Election Commission was not spared. For the first time the Election Commission's impartiality was sought to be questioned.

ALARMING DEVELOPMENT

More alarming was the blatant interference by the acting Governor of Bihar, Justice B.M. Lal. Due to retire in the first week of October, the Governor, bypassing the state administration and the Election Commission, wrote directly to the Home Minister questioning the competence and authority of the Election Commission in the ongoing electoral process in Bihar. The Governor's action was in tandem with the wild and unsubstantiated allegations levelled by the BJP-Samata combine. Mr. Lal seems to have taken out a leaf out from the book of his predecessor, Mr. S.S. Bhandari. Unlike B.M. Lal, Mr. Bhandari, a hardcore RSS man, was sent to Bihar as Governor with the express purpose of dislodging the RJD government there.

This latest trickery employed by the BJP-Samata campaign managers is a pointer to their desperation. The three phases of elections conducted, despite the exit polls, the BJP campaign managers realise are contrary to their expectations. That is the reason for the all out attack on the Election Commission.

With no major "achievements" to talk about before the electorate, the success in Kargil in pushing back the Pakistani intruders is sought to be projected as a "victory" achieved by the Vajpayee government. In fact it is a failure of the BJP-led government which resulted in the Pakistani intrusion in Kargil. It but exposes the criminal negligence of the BJP-led government that cost hundreds of lives. Even after the conflict is over, many questions remain unanswered. Why were specific intelligence warnings of an intrusion not acted upon. Brigadier Surinder Singh, stationed in that sector in a written note to his seniors had warned of this. All this proves the criminal offence of the Vajpayee government with regard to defence and security of the country.

HOLLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

After the intrusion was detected, the defence minister, George Fernandes, sought to absolve the prime minister of Pakistan saying that he had no knowledge of it, meaning thereby that the Pakistani ruling establishment had no control over the army and both the army and the civilian authority functioned independent of each other. It was the joint statement signed by the US President, Bill Clinton and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief that should have finally convinced George Fernandes of the involvement of the Pakistan's civilian authority. Isolated internationally, Nawaz Sharief had to plead with the US president to intervene, whose outcome was the joint statement. The statement while acknowledging the Pakistani involvement also assured Pakistan that the President would take "personal interest" in the Kashmir issue. It was most distressing that the Vajpayee government did not raise any protest against this part of the statement which was detrimental to the interests of India.

It should be noted here that normalcy was restored to the Kashmir valley which had been facing prolonged trouble, during the tenure of the United Front government at the Centre. The assembly elections held then saw a turnout of 50 percent. The situation has reverted to where it was earlier, thanks to the policies of the BJP led government. Its stated position of anti-minoritysim and opposition to Article 370 of the Constitution were to lead to alienation of the people.

The only other "achievement" that the BJP talks of during its stint at the centre is the Pokhran blasts. India's long standing policy of peace, of keeping the nuclear option open -- a peace-oriented policy was reversed with the tests on May 11 and 13, 1998. The adverse consequences for the region and the heavy cost that it would impose on the country were disregarded. As a response Pakistani also conducted its tests, leading to worldwide condemnation and isolation, particularly of India, since it was the initiator. The CPI(M) had warned that the pursuance of this course would but lead to capitulation before imperialism. This warning has turned true with the BJP government entering into negotiations with the US, clouded in secrecy, and ultimately agreeing to sign the CTBT, which has so far been resisted by successive governments and the people at large. This has provided the US an opportunity to emerge as arbiter in Indo-Pakistan relations.

The Vajpayee government, however, sought to take cover under the "security threat" posed from China, as an excuse for conducting the tests. While the Defence Minister, in the days preceding the blasts put out concocted stories against China, it was Vajpayee's letter to Clinton on the day the tests were conducted that threatened to disrupt Indo-China relations, which were being normalised over a long period of time. This confidential letter, published in the press in the US, also talked about the threat perception from China. This action of the BJP-led government has isolated India internationally, both from the third world countries and the peace loving peoples.

While citing the threat from China, the real threat is sought to be ignored. By its actions, the Vajpayee government has for the first time invited direct US intervention in bilateral questions between India and Pakistan. Whether it is the nuclear policy or on the question of Kargil, the BJP-led government is increasingly becoming vulnerable to US pressure. These events have taken place at a time when the USA is imposing its hegemony worldwide and blatantly intervening in its interests. Whether it is Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan or Yugoslavia, the US is imposing its will. But the BJP is too willing to be a junior partner of the US, in its scheme of things.

The threat from having the BJP at the Centre is not merely to India's foreign policy postulates. It is to its very security and its integrity. There can be no other example as that of Kargil or the Pokhran tests to demonstrate this.