INDIA bloc moves no-confidence motion against Centre, aims to break Modi’s silence on Manipur

New Delhi: The No-confidence motion against the Central government was moved by the Opposition bloc INDIA on Tuesday afternoon.

The motion was moved by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi in the Lok Sabha. Before moving the motion, Gogoi asked the House, “Should the remarks made by prime minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber be revealed in the House?”

This evoked a sharp response from the BJP leaders. Home minister Amit Shah stood up saying that the members cannot make unsubstantiated claims against the PM.

Then Gogoi submitted his motion “This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers” before the House and then made his statement.

Why did Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not lead the motion?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was supposed to move the motion but it was withdrawn at the last minute. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi and other ministers from the ruling party wondered why is Rahul Gandhi not talking today? “We have come here to listen to his (Rahul’s) speech,” said Joshi.

Gogoi’s motion

INDIA alliance wanted PM Modi to speak on Manipur violence. PM has taken a ‘mounvrath’ to not speak in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, they said.

Gogoi raised three questions in the House:

- Why has PM Modi not gone to Manipur?

- Why did the PM speak only for 30 seconds on Manipur after 80 days?

- Why has PM Modi not removed the CM of Manipur N Biren Singh?

The INDIA alliance of the opposition gave their own answers to these questions. “PM Modi is quiet on Manipur as the double engine government has failed in the state. The anger against two communities has never been seen before like this. In one India, there are two Manipurs: one from the hills and other from the valley,” said Gogoi.

Gogoi said, “PM Modi is ‘maun’ (silent) as his image is his biggest concern. He does not want to accept his mistake that his government has failed in controlling the situation in Manipur. The No-confidence motion is to break his vow of silence.”

PM gives statement at BJP meeting

PM Narendra Modi attended the BJP parliamentary meeting on Tuesday and said that the Opposition brought the no-confidence motion against this government ‘to test the confidence of its own alliance members’.

He said, “INDIA bloc is marked by distrust among its constituents.” He described the opposition alliance as ‘ghamandia’ (arrogant) and congratulated the party’s Rajya Sabha members for the ‘semi-final’ win in voting on the Delhi Services Bill.

Rajya Sabha proceedings stalled

INDIA parties walked out of Rajya Sabha as the Central government continued to refuse an immediate discussion on Manipur. There was a mutually negotiated motion but the discussion is still not happening.

Jairam Ramesh, member of Parliament tweeted, “The continued refusal of the Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to apologise for the highly objectionable and completely unacceptable remarks made against the INDIA party leaders.”