The above given facts about the Congress and the opposition parties bring into bold relief the need of Congress playing an effective parliamentary role in the country. These facts suggest that otherwise the very foundations of democracy, socialism and national solidarity will be seriously undermined, thus throwing the country into the morass of confusion, chaos and disintegration.
When I say this I am not for a moment deprecating the emergence of healthy democratic opposition in the country. As a matter of fact Congress would very much welcome such a development, although I am sure that even if responsible and patriotic opposition does not crystallise itself, Congress would, by its precept and practice, safeguard democracy and protect freedom of the individual to enjoy economic equality and social justice.
Two Wings of the Congress
In order to play an effective parliamentary role the Congress must take certain concrete steps. First, it must bring about a complete unity of purpose, a spirit of mutual adjustment and understanding between the organisational and parliamentary wings of the Congress by constantly stressing the common ground between the two. It would be irrelevant here to discuss which of these two wings of Congress must take precedence. To my mind, it would be wrong to pose a problem of this kind. Some time ago, Prof. Humayun Kabir, quoting the examples of Britain and the United States of America suggested that the parliamentary wing of the Congress must take precedence over its organisational wing. He stated that it would help to remove the confusion created by the dualism of authority in the country—authority divided or shared by the party-in-power and the Government. Frankly I am certain that there is no confusion of the kind Prof. Kabir has alluded to, as the functions of the party and the Government are clearly demarcated. I feel strongly that the organisational and parliamentary wings of the Congress are of equal importance and one wing does not assume precedence over the other. In the interest of the party and the country, both wings must work together in harmony and reduce to the minimum the chances of conflict and misunderstanding.