A protracted war seems likely with many ramifications not only internationally but on domestic political and economic life. During any national crisis, the government of the day needs to be strengthened by broad-based political participation in the difficult and far-reaching decisions that have to be taken.

The case for such participation is even stronger in the present unusual circumstances when a caretaker government has the onerous responsibility of prosecuting a war but appears to be failing in itsduty to carry all political parties with it.

When governments in the past led by Pandit Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi sent India's armed forces into battle, the peoples' representatives were present in the Lok Sabha to be informed and consulted, to give their consent, and to hold the government accountable. Today, after the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, none of that is possible.

The only constitutional body which can perform those democratic functions is the Rajya Sabha. An erratic and almost absent-minded process of government consultation with opposition parties is not a workable substitute. It is not only a matter of principle, there are sound practical reasons for holding a Rajya Sabha session. It is absolutely essential for the Vajpayee government to be seen at home and abroad to be acting with the consent of the whole country. As things stand now, the country and political parties are united about the basic objectives on the LoC and there is no dispute about the continuing use ofmilitary means to retrieve Indian posts on the border.

However, the political consensus on the government's management of the crisis is fraying at the edges and the government more than the opposition is to blame for this. More and more complaints are being heard from opposition parties about being kept in the dark. These are not mere grouses.

Once the opposition had promised full support to the government, it was taken for granted. Only one all-party briefing has been held and even though new complexities have emerged in the Kargil situation, the opposition has been told no more about them than the media. This is unacceptable. Even more unforgivable is the neglect of opposition chief ministers -- who are on a firmer democratic footing, let it be said, than central ministers who have lost the confidence of the House.

To fail to keep chief ministers properly informed about the general situation in Kargil is bad enough. For the Centre to take unilateral decisions about matters affecting law and order inthe states is much worse, it is irresponsible. Vacating the most serious aggression in 50 years demands national solidarity and a truly national effort. Call the Rajya Sabha.