Opposition parties belonging to the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA, plan to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha on July 26 to force the Prime Minister to speak on Manipur unrest.
As only 13 working days of the Monsoon Session are left and the Lok Sabha Speaker can take up to 10 days to admit a no-confidence motion as per procedure, the Congress is keen on moving the motion on July 26 morning. The party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, confirmed the same to a news agency.
The document seeking the motion is ready, and the Congress issued a three-line whip, asking all its Lok Sabha members to be present, for a parliamentary party meeting at 10.30 a.m. on July 26.
Before that, floor leaders of the 26 parties of the INDIA bloc will meet at the office of the Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, as a no-trust motion needs the support of at least 50 or more members to be adopted in the House.
Informed sources told The Hindu that the move to bring a no-confidence motion was first discussed at a meeting chaired by Mr. Kharge on Monday and thereafter, he broached the issue with other INDIA constituents on July 25 morning at the floor leaders’ meeting.
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These INDIA parties also hit back at Mr. Modi for comparing them to the British East India company, with Mr. Kharge saying Mr. Modi is “rattled”. “Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi. We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur,” tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Amid the growing confrontation between the government and the Opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to the Opposition leaders of both Houses, stating the government was ready for an elaborate discussion on Manipur and appealed to them for their cooperation.
However, the stage seems to be set for more confrontation instead of cooperation. Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Syed Nasser Hussain, at a joint press conference, accused the Prime Minister of “committing grave impropriety”.
“The Prime Minister speaking about Manipur outside the House a few minutes before the Monsoon Session was about to commence is an instance of grave parliamentary impropriety. This impropriety has been further aggravated by his not speaking a single word on Manipur in Parliament,” they said.
“The overall parliamentary strategy is in place for the INDIA parties. Tactics to execute that strategy evolve every day. Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha states the procedure of moving a no-confidence motion. Picture abhi baki hai!,” Trinamool Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien told The Hindu.
Another Congress leader said, “It is not about the numbers. We know we don’t have it but it is our last weapon to force the Prime Minister to come to the House and speak”.
He added that INDIA parties had explored various options, including accepting the government proposal to discuss under Rule 193 in the Lok Sabha and 176 in the Rajya Sabha that fix a time limit to the discussions. But many felt that since the Opposition had raised the stakes by demanding a statement from the Prime Minister, these rules would not serve the purpose.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition adopted a strategy of moving bulk notices for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267 that entails voting and doesn’t have any time constraints. But to ensure that no more MP is suspended like Aam Aadmi Party member Sanjay Singh, the Opposition decided against trooping into the well of the Upper House.
As the war of words escalated, the Home Minister, in a letter, reached out to Opposition leaders and urged them to rise above party lines and cooperate. He said violence erupted in Manipur in early May due to a court decision and other factors.
“Some shameful incidents also took place…the entire country, northeast and especially Manipur is awaiting that the Parliament, rising above political lines, stands with them,” Mr. Shah’s letter read.
The letter came hours after the Prime Minister had targeted the newly formed INDIA grouping bloc and said even British East India company and Indian Mujahideen had ‘India’ in their names.
“Why is he [Mr. Modi] rattled by the name of our alliance INDIA, if he thinks there is nothing in a name? This means that with the Opposition meetings being held successfully in Patna and in Bengaluru, they [BJP] are getting rattled and scared. They are saying all this in their fear and recalling East India Company and Indian Mujahideen,” Mr. Kharge responded.
Mr. O’ Brien added, “Mr. Modi and the BJP are rattled after they heard the name INDIA. They are in a reactive mode and have no good response. That is why he is coming up with the crazy explanations, the name is strong INDIA. For the first time since 2014, they have no answer.”
(with inputs from Vijaita Singh)
