Political Turmoil in Parliament: No-Confidence Motion Against Modi Government Accepted

Introduction:

In a significant development, the Indian Parliament has accepted a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led government. The motion was moved by the Congress party to exert pressure on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the Manipur issue. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, will now decide the date and time for the discussion, as per the established rules.

Opposition’s Unified Effort:

The no-confidence motion received backing from various opposition parties, including Congress, DMK, TMC, BRS, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JD(U), and Left parties. Nama Nageswar Rao of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also moved a similar motion. This united opposition believes that the motion will compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the situation in Manipur during the parliamentary session.

Proceedings in Parliament:3

When the House convened, Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi presented the no-confidence motion for discussion. However, Speaker Om Birla urged him to let the House function as he knew the rules well. In response, the Congress and other opposition leaders protested by gathering in the Well of the House, demanding Prime Minister Modi’s statement on the Manipur issue.

Government’s Response:
Despite the opposition’s protests and the no-confidence motion, the ruling BJP appeared unfazed. Prime Minister Modi reportedly encouraged his party MPs not to be disheartened by the opposition’s attacks and tactics and to focus on working towards securing the NDA government’s return to power in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Parliamentary Disruptions:

The opposition expressed concerns about the government’s ability to push through key Bills without proper discussion, raising suspicions that the disruptions may be advantageous for the ruling party. Nevertheless, the government managed to pass several Bills, including the Multi-State Cooperatives Societies (Amendment) Bill, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill.

Historical Context:

No-confidence motions are rare in Indian politics. Since Independence, only 27 such motions have been moved in the Lok Sabha. The last successful no-confidence motion took place in 1999, leading to the fall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. While attempts were made in 2003 and 2008, they did not lead to the government’s downfall.

Conclusion:

The acceptance of the no-confidence motion against the Modi government has set the stage for a crucial parliamentary discussion. As the nation waits for the Speaker to announce the date, all eyes will be on the outcome of the debate and its potential implications on the current political landscape in India.