NEW DEHLI: India’s political landscape is set to witness a crucial event as the parliament prepares to deliberate on a no-confidence motion, which has been initiated by opposition parties against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The debate is expected to take centre stage with Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi leading the discourse on behalf of the opposition. Scheduled for Thursday, the motion will be put to a vote following the deliberations.
While Mr Modi’s government holds a substantial majority with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, opposition leaders view the upcoming debate as an opportunity to compel the Prime Minister to address the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur state. These clashes, which erupted between the Meitei majority and the tribal Kuki minority in early May, have resulted in the tragic loss of over 150 lives and the displacement of tens of thousands.
The current parliamentary session, which commenced on July 20th, has been marked by vigorous protests from opposition leaders. Their primary demand has been for Prime Minister Modi to address the house and offer his perspective on the escalating violence in Manipur. Critics argue that the government’s response has so far been insufficient, and they seek to hold Mr Modi accountable for his administration’s approach.
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed the government’s willingness to engage in a discussion about the ongoing situation in Manipur. Nevertheless, he has criticized the opposition’s approach, accusing them of evading genuine discourse on the matter. The parliamentary proceedings have been marred by interruptions and protests, leading to the passage of several significant bills with limited debate.
This no-confidence motion is not the first that Prime Minister Modi’s government has faced since coming into power in 2014. In 2018, a similar motion was put forth by a lawmaker, centered around the contentious issue of granting a special category status to Andhra Pradesh state. That motion was ultimately defeated after a marathon 12-hour debate, underscoring the resilience of Mr Modi’s political alliance.
As the nation braces for this upcoming debate, all eyes are on the newly formed opposition coalition, known as INDIA, comprising 26 parties. Established in July, this alliance aims to challenge the BJP’s dominance in the impending general election next year. The no-confidence motion debate provides a platform for this coalition to showcase its unity and collective strength in the face of a formidable political adversary.
