Gaurav Gogoi Initiates No Confidence Motion Debate In Lok Sabha, Takes A Jibe At PM Modi Over 'Maun Vrat'

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha took up the discussion on a no-confidence motion on Tuesday, as was decided by LS Speaker Om Birla last week.

This session is expected to last 12 hours, with approximately 6 hours and 41 minute allotted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the Congress party has been granted around one hour and 15 minutes, according to sources in the know.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the discussion on the No Confidence Motion in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to remain silent in Parliament had prompted the necessity of introducing a no-confidence motion to draw a response from the PM.

Earlier, it was remarked that MP Rahul Gandhi, who made a comeback to Parliament on Monday after four months, will open the discussion in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Taking a broadside at the PM, Gogoi stated that the PM had taken a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence) to refrain from speaking in the Parliament, compelling the opposition to introduce the motion to “break his silence.”

Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi went on to say, "We are compelled to bring the No Confidence Motion. This was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur. I move the Motion that this House expresses No Confidence in the Government. I.N.D.I.A. has brought this Motion for Manipur. Manipur wants justice."

Initiating the debate, MP Gogoi said that women in Manipur demand justice.

Gaurav Gogoi questioned in the Lok Sabha; Why Prime Minister had not visited Manipur till now? Why it took him 80 days to react to the violence in Manipur and when he did speak, it was just for 30 seconds? Why hasn't the Manipur CM been removed from his post till now?

MP Gaurav Gogoi went on to say that the PM will have to accept that his double-engine government in Manipur has failed, adding that 150 people have died in Manipur, around 5000 houses were burned down, around 60,000 people are lodged in relief camps and around 6500 FIRs registered.

“The CM of the state, who should have created an atmosphere of talks, of peace and harmony, has taken instigating steps in the past 2-3 days that have created tension in society," he alleged.

Gogoi emphasized during the Parliament session that the incidents are not merely happening in a corner of Northeast, but are happening in India. “If Manipur is burning, the entire India is burning,” he stressed.

As BJP MP Nishikant Dubey started responding to the no-confedence motion debate, the Opposition created a ruckus. Congress had yesterday written to Speaker Om Birla over the allegations Dubey levelled in the House against some senior Congress leaders and asked the matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges for examination and necessary action.

BJP MP Dubey raised the issue of the Supreme Court direction staying Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the ‘Modi’ surname remark case, following which his membership was restored.

He, however, maintained that the Supreme Court has not delivered a judgement but given a stay order.

Participating in the no-confidence motion during Parliament session, Dubey said, “My PM says that this is not a no-confidence motion, this is a motion of confidence within the opposition to see who is supporting whom….”

The debates on the no-confidence motion are scheduled to take place across two days of August 8 and 9, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to reply to the debate on August 10.

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