The opposition alliance ‘India’ is considering moving a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, to force a discussion on the situation in Manipur state. This was discussed in the meeting of the opposition alliance on Tuesday. Of course, if the government does not agree to private talks, these weapons will have to be used in the end.
At least 50 MPs must support the no-confidence motion. The Telugu Desam Party moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in 2018. After discussion, the proposal was defeated by a vote of 325-126.
The government does not want to accept the adjournment proposal as demanded by the opposition regarding the situation in Manipur. If the adjournment motion is accepted, the opposition may reprimand the government. The government can be held accountable. Can compel the government to answer certain questions. Most importantly, the prime minister’s statements can be counter-questioned.
Accepting the adjournment proposal means acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. That proposal was the only one to be considered after closing all business of the meeting. For related reasons, the government is not willing to accept the adjournment proposal. Instead, they are interested in short-term discussions in other streams. But the opposition does not want that. As a result, the normal functioning of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is being disrupted due to the tension between the government and the opposition. The scene in the two rooms was the same on Tuesday. At noon, the microphone of the opposition was turned off in the Rajya Sabha. They walked out in protest. After that, the bill was passed there. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha amid uproar.
The leaders of ‘India’ have understood that the government will not agree to discuss the Manipur situation as per their demands. As a result, they are thinking of bringing a no-confidence motion as a strategy. There is no way to set aside a no-confidence motion once it is submitted as per the rules. Since no confidence is against the government, the prime minister has to answer for it. The opposition leaders are therefore trying to choose this path without being able to force the Prime Minister to make a statement in Parliament about Manipur.
Parliamentary Minister Prahlad Joshi said on Tuesday about this strategy of the opposition that the opposition had only once moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in 2018.
On the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for 36 seconds about the situation in Manipur outside the chamber. He said, just having ‘India’ in the name does not mean anything. (terrorist organization) Indian Mujahideen or People’s Front of India also has the word ‘India’. It doesn’t matter.
Opponents feel that the formation of the ‘India’ alliance has made the BJP anxious. The name ‘India’ is haunting the ruling party. Again and again, the Prime Minister is attacking ‘India’.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We are all demanding the Prime Minister’s statement on Manipur.” But he is avoiding the meeting and talking about the East India Company outside.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister on Tuesday. He is undergoing knee pain relief treatment at an Ayurveda clinic in Kerala. Addressing the Prime Minister by tweeting from there, Rahul said, ‘You can say whatever you want to us. But we are “India”. We will remove the wounds of Manipur. I will wipe the tears of every woman and child there. I will return love and peace to the people there. We will re-establish the ideal of India in Manipur.’