Rama Krishna Sangem
Opposition front INDIA led by Congress began the three day discussion on the no-confidence motion it moved against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s council of ministers in Lok Sabha on August 8, Tuesday. The main opposition party limited the first day debate to burning issue of Manipur violence. Contrary to expectations that Rahul Gandhi would start the debate, the party fielded its MP from Assam Gaurav Gagoi on the first day.
Gaurav Gogoi, who introduced the no confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government, invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s “raj dharma” remark while arguing for the motion. While saying that PM Modi should remember Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘raj dharma’ remark during the 2002 Gujarat riots, Gogoi asked why the chief minister of Manipur has not been removed yet.
He added that in the past, the CMs of Gujarat were changed twice, Uttarakhad’s CMs were changed four times, and Tripura’s CM was changed. “What blessing is being given to Manipur’s CM?”
Gogoi also said the opposition bloc INDIA was forced to bring the no-confidence motion against the government to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “vow of silence” on Manipur. He alleged that a government which talks about “one India has created two Manipurs — one living in hills and the other in the valley”.
Gogoi also posed three questions. First, Why did he not visit Manipur to date? Second, Why did it take almost 80 days to speak on Manipur finally and when he did speak, it was just for 30 seconds? Third, Why has the CM not sacked the Manipur CM so far?
As the lower house took up the motion moved by Gogoi, there were heated exchanges between the Opposition and treasury benches after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wondered why Rahul Gandhi’s name as lead speaker was withdrawn last minute.
Gogoi submitted his motion – “This House expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers” – before the House and then made his statement. He also said that INDIA was forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur.
“If Manipur is burning, the whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a ‘maun vrat (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha,” Gogoi said.
“PM will have to accept that his double-engine govt, his govt in Manipur has failed. That is why 150 people died in Manipur, around 5,000 houses were torched, around 60,000 people are in relief camp ansd around 6500 FIRs have been registered. The CM of the state, which should have created an atmosphere of talks, of peace and harmony, has taken instigating steps in the past 2-3 days that have created tension in society,” said Gagoi.
BJP dismisses no trust motion
Following Gogoi’s speech, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said, “My PM says that this is not a no-confidence motion, this is a motion of confidence within the opposition to see who is supporting whom.” The LS will debate the motion for two more days – Wednesday and Thursday. On the last day, PM Modi will reply to the debate and after that the Speaker will either put the motion for voting or reject with voice vote.
Ruling BJP led NDA has absolute numbers in the House.
