NEW DELHI: India’s parliament authorized a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Wednesday, initiated by an alliance of opposition parties. The move aims to compel the government to address concerns surrounding the ethnic clashes and ongoing violence in the northeastern state of Manipur.
Despite the no-confidence vote being authorized, Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a clear majority of 301 members in the 542-seat lower house of parliament, ensuring the government’s stability remains unaffected.
The opposition parties’ objective is to trigger a comprehensive debate on the violence that has unfolded in the remote, BJP-ruled state of Manipur since early May. More than 130 people have lost their lives, and around 60,000 have been displaced due to the ongoing ethnic tensions in the small state with a population of 3.2 million.
Lower house speaker Om Birla, after approving the opposition motion, stated that he would soon decide when the debate and vote on the no-confidence motion would occur.
The incidents of arson and destruction of abandoned houses, government offices, and vehicles by armed mobs continue to be reported from at least two districts of Manipur.
Indian PM Modi’s Shameful Silence Over Manipur Violence
Prime Minister Modi had not publicly addressed the violence until last week when videos showing two women being paraded naked and molested by a mob in Manipur sparked national outrage. Modi condemned the mass assault as “shameful” and promised strict action against the perpetrators.
However, opposition parties have disrupted the ongoing monsoon session of parliament, demanding a detailed statement by Modi on Manipur, followed by a debate.
As the head of the government, Prime Minister Modi is required to respond to the no-confidence motion before it is put to vote. The government has offered a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing that internal security is the responsibility of his ministry.
The violence in Manipur began on May 3 after a court ordered the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education, currently enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people, to the majority Meitei population as well.
Opposition leader Shashi Tharoor of the Congress party urged the government to invest time in answering questions about Manipur, considering the horrendous loss of lives, violence, sexual assault, and displacement experienced in the region. The no-confidence vote serves as a platform to address these pressing concerns and ensure accountability from the government regarding the situation in Manipur.
