In a high-decibel six-hour debate peppered with disruptions, 11 speakers from the Opposition and 11 from the ruling alliance took the floor in what was the second no-confidence motion faced by the Narendra Modi government, and the first in this term. With a brute majority of 330 in the Lower House, the government faces no numerical threat from the Opposition, which said that it had to use a no-confidence motion as it was the only way to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament.
The Opposition focused on the violence in Manipur, where at least 160 people have died and 40,000 displaced in ethnic violence that has spanned three months, and said that Modi had no respect for Parliament. Gaurav Gogoi, an MP from Assam, opened the debate and questioned why Modi maintained silence on Manipur and demanded that the state's chief minister N Biren Singh be sacked.
"Why didn't the PM go to Manipur till date? Rahul Gandhi went there, the Union home minister and the minister of state for home visited Manipur. Why not the PM?" he said.
"İf Manipur is burning, then India is burning. If Manipur is divided, India is divided...I can understand why the PM is silent. He must admit his double engine government has failed," Gogoi added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who returned to the Lok Sabha after 137 days on Monday, was scheduled to open the debate, but some strategists said the Congress changed plans as Gandhi wanted Gogoi, an MP from northeast India, to start, although another theory is that the party wants Gandhi to face off against Modi on Thursday. "Gandhi changed the plan to surprise the government," a party strategist said, asking not to be named.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
He was a dictator: Ayushmann recalls getting thrashed by father as a child
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has revealed that his late father, astrologer P Khurana, was very strict and would often thrash him with 'chappals' and 'belts,. Khurrana, renowned for his roles in films such as Vicky Donor (2012) and Article 15 (2019), went as far as describing his father as a \"dictator\".
Aamir Khan: My daughter Ira and I go to joint therapy
Actor Aamir Khan, 59, has shared his ongoing efforts to rebuild his relationship with his daughter, Ira Khan, 27, in an unexpected yet heartfelt revelation.
DILJIT VS TELANGANA: A WAR OF WORDS
Diljit Dosanjh takes on government's dictate on his songs and says declare the state dry, and he will tweak his songs
Sunny Kaushal: It's time to allow men to be vulnerable
For actor Sunny Kaushal, the definition of masculinity is ever-evolving. \"It depends on how you feel and how you want to take it forward in your own way,\" he muses.
England thrash Ireland; Rabiot rises for France
England blew away l O-man Republic of Ireland 5-0 to wrap up promotion to the Nations League top flight as four players netted their first international goals on Sunday, while Adrien Rabiot scored twice as France beat Italy.
With Malaysia draw, India end year without win
The 1-1 draw against Malaysia, Rahul Bheke cancelling Paulo Josue's strike, meant India would end 2024 without a win from 11 matches, a first since 2014.
Sinner, a shift in power centre
The Italian world No.l was the flag-bearer in a men's tennis season that saw the new generation assert itself
Udita driving India's fine run in Rajgir
Many were surprised when Udita Duhan ended as the costliest buy at 32 lakh in the Hockey India League auction last month, proving to be more expensive than FIH Player of the Year and Paris Olympics top-scorer Yibbi Jansen.
After Paris low, Satwik-Chirag to return at the China Masters
India's finest men's badminton doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will return to action after a gap of three-and-a-half months, at this week's $1.15 million China Masters at Shenzhen.
Form across formats will dictate franchise interest at IPL auction
Recency bias has always influenced the bidding no matter how scientific and data driven the process becomes
