New Delhi: The Lok Sabha witnessed intense verbal clashes between the opposition and the treasury benches as the debate on the no-confidence motion against the government unfolded. The motion was brought forward by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, representing the Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). The discourse in the Lower House was marked by pointed accusations and a demand for answers regarding the Manipur violence.
Gogoi took the floor to initiate the debate and alleged that the Opposition was compelled to bring the no-confidence motion in an attempt to shatter what he termed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “maun vrat” or vow of silence concerning the Manipur violence. He alleged that the government’s rhetoric of “one India” had paradoxically resulted in the creation of “two Manipurs” – one dwelling in the hills and the other in the valley.
The Congress MP posed a series of questions to the Prime Minister, “Why did he not visit Manipur to date? Why did it take almost 80 days for him to address the Manipur situation, and when he did speak, it was just for 30 seconds? Why has the PM not removed the Manipur CM yet?”
As the no-confidence motion debate began, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi’s query about the last-minute withdrawal of Rahul Gandhi’s name as the lead speaker ignited a fiery exchange between the opposition and the treasury benches. Gogoi responded by implying that the remarks made by the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber should be disclosed to the House, prompting a swift response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who sternly cautioned against making unsubstantiated claims about the PM.
Gogoi asserted that the no-confidence motion was not merely about numbers but was driven by the pursuit of justice for Manipur. He cited Martin Luther King Jr.’s adage that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” highlighting the gravity of the situation in Manipur.
“Manipur demands justice. If Manipur is in turmoil, so is the entire country. If Manipur is divided, it symbolizes a divided nation. As the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should address the House and address the Manipur issue,” Gogoi passionately asserted.
He further questioned why Prime Minister Modi had not visited Manipur, contrasting this with the visits made by Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Shah, and the Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai. Gogoi raised concerns about the government’s claims of “one India,” which seemed to have led to a paradoxical division within Manipur itself.
As the no-confidence motion debate continues to unfold, the charged atmosphere in the Lok Sabha reflects the intensity of the concerns raised by the Opposition regarding the Manipur violence and the government’s response to it. The proceedings are poised to shed further light on this pressing issue, which has captured the nation’s attention.