Shruti Suman
Congress initiated a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government, aiming to break Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “vow of silence” regarding the situation in Manipur. The opposition, represented by the INDIA alliance, began the debate with intense exchanges between the opposition and the government.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the debate, stating that the motion was brought because the government, which talks about “one India,” has created a divide between the hills and valleys of Manipur. He emphasized that Manipur’s demands for justice are crucial for the entire nation’s well-being, quoting Martin Luther King Jr’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Gogoi expressed disappointment that Prime Minister Modi chose to remain silent on the matter, refusing to speak in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
During the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi questioned the withdrawal of Rahul Gandhi as the lead speaker. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey clarified that the vote was not about expressing distrust in the government but to gauge trust within the opposition. He took a dig at Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of focusing on her son and son-in-law.
Gogoi responded by demanding that the prime minister break his silence and address the issues concerning Manipur in both houses of Parliament. He highlighted three reasons for the PM’s silence: the failure of the state government, the home department, and the national security arrangement. Gogoi argued that the PM’s reluctance to acknowledge any mistakes also contributed to his silence.
In response to Gogoi’s claims, Home Minister Amit Shah retorted that unsubstantiated claims about the PM should not be made in the House. The government presented the argument that in previous cases of violence in Manipur, statements were either not made in Parliament or were given by the junior home minister.
Gogoi submitted his motion, expressing a lack of confidence in the council of ministers, and five ministers – Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Kiren Rijiju – are scheduled to speak during the debate. The opposition believes that the recent ethnic violence in Manipur, which resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and displacements, demands urgent attention from the Prime Minister.
