THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION - International Indian

[ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ]
The Sangliana Saga:
Technicolor Turncoatism
“A number of BJP MPs had voted against their own party in favor of the Congress.
Hmar Tlawmte Sangliana, Mizoram-bred but representing Bangalore North, was one of
them, and also the most unexpected.”
[ By INGRID ALBUqUERqUE ]
I
n recent times, politics in India has
found politicians moving in all kinds
of directions. Notwithstanding
that, when Hmar Tlawmte Sangliana,
a Mizoram MP from Bangalore North
defied his Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)
and cross-voted during the Congress’
historic trust vote in July 2008, people
were stunned. The amazing fact is that
after being expelled from his party for
“bailing out” the UPA, the supercopturned-MP
is being felicitated for his
“courageous stand” all around the
country. This is how somebody put it,
“During times of universal deceit, it is
as if the mere telling of truth becomes a
revolutionary act.”
Sangliana’s open defiance of the party
deeply embarrassed the BJP which in
any case was trying to purge its stables.
Sangliana was immediately turfed out and
his office and residence ransacked. He is
now provided with “Z” security, the same
provided to the President of India!
Beyond all the flamboyance and drama,
the truth is that there is an urgent need for a
new political paradigm in India. The question
is, can H.T. Sangliana set the regeneration
ball rolling? Ingrid Albuquerque finds out
during this exclusive interview.
We live in a degenerating world and India is
neither example nor exception. As a part of our
society grows more affluent and figures high
on Forbes’ list, there is a simultaneous increase
in the pockets of grinding poverty and hunger.
Compassion has become chic, and even the most
H.T. Sangliana: India today has attained the reputation of
superpower status for right or wrong reasons
casual look around will reveal that majority of
people are more keen about purchasing the
latest electronic gadget than doing anything
about those in need.
Personal morals are now considered by
many as quaintly antique and envy and
common greed are today’s most pervasive
social diseases. We can no longer overlook the
destructive epidemic of crime and violence
covering bomb blasts in city after city, bank
scams and political corruption.
In fact, politics reached a new low when
on the day the ruling party had to prove its
majority with a trust vote, three BJP MPs
accused the Samajwadi party and Congress of
bribing them, as they flagrantly waved bundles
of currency allover the place and into the
camera. In the process the accusers themselves
have committed offences ranging from breach
of privilege to breaching the Parliament’s
security to even corruption charges.
Just as the nation was hanging its head in
shame came the next surprise. A number
of BJP MPs had voted against their own
party in favor of the Congress. Hmar
Tlawmte Sangliana, Mizoram-bred but
representing Bangalore North, was one
of them, and also the most unexpected.
What made Sangliana turn coat so to say?
“My conscience,” says the maverick
politician without preamble. “The Indo-
Nuclear deal under fiery debate had been
initiated by NDA (National Democratic
Alliance) in which the BJP was the biggest
stakeholder. It was only because of not being
in power now and due to the fear that the UPA
might take full credit for implementation
of the deal, that the BJP wanted to have it
redrafted so that the party could gain some
political mileage to improve its image. This is
impure politics which went against my inner
grit and grain. It hurt my conscience. Undue
delay of the agreement is likely to result in
our missing the proverbial boat and we would
have to start from the beginning again and
will surely be much costlier. The motive and
patriotism of the expert team working on
the deal cannot be doubted by any, so where
is the scope of questioning their integrity or
pretending to be fearful that our sovereignty
might be lost and trampled on.”
TII: You are obviously in favor of the
deal; what makes you so certain it is the
best thing for India?
HTS: India today has attained the reputation
of superpower status for right or wrong reasons.
In reality, we are not yet fully fit to be testified
and certified a superpower for a variety of
reasons of which acute power shortage is the
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THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN