A New India
Chapter 269 - 269: 3rd Day of Session and Sudden Change

The morning session of Parliament on July 17, 1955, began under the shadow of intense national and international scrutiny.

Security was tight, and the media swarmed outside the gates of the Parliament building, ready to report every word and every gesture.

Inside the chamber, there was an unusual calm after two days of unprecedented chaos.

MPs entered quietly, their faces serious but resolute.

Today was different, no shouting, no chair-throwing.

Today was for discussion.

As the Speaker called the session to order, the room settled into an uneasy silence.

Prime Minister Rohan rose, clutching the report of the State Reorganization Commission.

His gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of allies and critics alike. "Honorable Members, the past two days have been a reflection of how deeply this issue resonates with our nation. But let us not make this Parliament a battlefield for egos. Let us make it a platform for solutions."

There were murmurs of agreement.

The opposition leader, Pratap Sharma, stood up.

His tone was measured but firm. "Prime Minister, we appreciate your call for discussion. But this House demands clarity. Why has Nepal, a sovereign nation until recently, been divided into states? Have you consulted its people, or is this just another unilateral decision?"

From the back benches, a representative from Nepal rose, his voice calm but edged with frustration. "Mr. Sharma, let me remind you that Nepal willingly joined the Indian Union after a mutual agreement. But let me also state, Prime Minister, that the people of Nepal feel sidelined in this process. We understand the necessity of integration, but where are the guarantees of autonomy? Where is the respect for our cultural identity?"

Rohan nodded, his expression serious. "Your concerns are valid, and I assure you they will be addressed. Nepal will not be treated as an afterthought. The proposed states of Nepal will have full administrative and cultural autonomy. This is not about erasing identities; it is about strengthening them."

The representative from Nepal nodded slowly, but the murmurs around the chamber indicated the discussion was far from over.

A voice rose from the northern bench, where the representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan sat.

One of them stood, his voice heavy with emotion. "Prime Minister, while we are grateful to be part of India, Gilgit and Baltistan are vast regions with unique challenges. Two state will not suffice. We need at least three states to ensure proper governance and development. Will this government support our demand?"

Before Rohan could respond, a senior MP from Punjab interjected. "Three states? And what about Punjab? You're dividing us into two without even asking! This bill is arbitrary and selective. It shows no understanding of regional sentiment."

The chamber erupted into a cacophony of voices.

MPs from various regions began shouting over each other, some demanding more states, others opposing the division entirely.

The Speaker repeatedly struck his gavel, trying to restore order.

"Order! Members, maintain decorum!"

Rohan raised a hand, signaling for silence. The room gradually quieted. "Honorable Members, this is a discussion, not a shouting match. Every region's case will be heard, but let me remind you this bill is based on the recommendations of a commission that spent three years collecting data and consulting stakeholders. This is not a decision taken lightly."

From the opposition benches, an MP from Uttar Pradesh stood up. "Prime Minister, your commission may have collected data, but it has ignored emotions. Braj, Awadh, Purvanchal what are these but attempts to erase Uttar Pradesh's identity? The people will not accept this division."

A young MP from the ruling party rose to counter him. "And what about governance? Uttar Pradesh is too large to be managed effectively. Dividing it is not erasing its identity; it's about ensuring development reaches every corner. Are you against progress?"

The opposition MP retorted, "Progress? Or political convenience? This division will create more bureaucracy, not less!"

The Speaker intervened again. "Members, let us focus on constructive discussion. Personal attacks will not help us reach a solution."

From the back benches, a representative from Bengal rose, his voice measured. "Prime Minister, if you are creating states based on linguistic and administrative criteria, why is Gorkhaland not included? The people of Darjeeling have been demanding statehood for years. Will you continue to ignore their voices?"

Another MP from Rajasthan added, "And what about Marwar and Mewar? If smaller states are the future, why not ours? Why are some regions prioritized while others are ignored?"

Rohan listened carefully, his face impassive.

When the questions subsided, he spoke. "Honorable Members, I understand the concerns raised here. But state reorganization cannot be a free-for-all. The commission's recommendations were based on specific criteria: linguistic identity, administrative feasibility, and regional development. Gorkhaland, Marwar, Mewar these demands are valid, but they require further study. This bill is not the end of reorganization; it is the beginning."

The chamber buzzed with murmurs again, but this time there was no shouting, no chaos.

An MP from Tamil Nadu stood up, his tone passionate but respectful. "Prime Minister, this bill has its flaws, but it is a step forward. My state supports it because it recognizes the importance of linguistic and cultural identity. I urge my colleagues to look at the bigger picture."

Another MP from Orissa added, "This bill is about governance, not division. We must support it while ensuring that every region's voice is heard."

Even Pratap Sharma, the opposition leader, seemed to soften his stance. "Prime Minister, while I still have reservations about some aspects of this bill, I appreciate your willingness to listen. This House must find a way to move forward together."

The mood in the chamber began to shift.

For the first time in three days, there was a sense of dialogue rather than confrontation.

Rohan seized the moment. "Honorable Members, let us not forget why we are here. This bill is not about dividing India; it is about building a stronger, more unified nation. Every region, every culture, and every language has a place in this Union. Let us work together to ensure that this reorganization serves the people, not politics."

The chamber erupted in applause from the ruling benches, while the opposition sat in thoughtful silence.

For the first time, it felt like progress was being made.

Yet there was something that kept nagging Rohan.

His intuition was telling him something that he is overlooking.

As he exited the parliament and sat in the ambassador.

He thought of why suddenly the opposition who were so opposed to the bill that even hearing it made them walk out, today debated and even agreed on some point.

This was not very normal. He looked around and spoke to Neeraj sitting on the front seat.

"Neeraj, I want all the Intelligence report in my table the movement we return to the office."

Neeraj hearing this replied "Yes sir, they will be there. Also sir right now you have a meeting with the Automobile Industry leaders, do i postpone it?".

"Let them come, reforms in Automobile Industry is also important, this talk is to bridge the gap between government and market so that any policies we publish reflect properly at the ground level.".

Spoke Rohan as he looked outside of the window thinking what is making his eyes blink.