Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday initiated the No-Confidence Motion in Lok Sabha and initiated a debate on the same. The Opposition I.N.D.I.A had moved the No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence. On Tuesday, as the lower house took up the motion moved by Gogoi, there were heated exchanges and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wondered why Rahul Gandhi's name as lead speaker was withdrawn last minute.
The PM is expected to participate in the discussion on August 10. Interestingly, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will also speak on the issue on the same day, sources said.
Initiating the debate on the motion in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi alleged that a government which talks about "one India has created two Manipurs — one living in hills and the other in the valley".
He said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties were forced to bring the no-confidence motion as this was never about numbers but about justice for Manipur.
"Manipur demands justice. Martin Luther King Jr had said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If Manipur is burning, whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, country is divided. It was our demand that as the leader of the country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and speak about Manipur. However, he kept a 'maun vrat (vow of silence) that he will neither speak in the Lok Sabha nor in the Rajya Sabha," Gogoi said.
Questioning why the Prime Minister has not visited the violence-hit state till date, Gogoi said, "Why did he (PM Modi) take about 80 days to speak on Manipur and just spoke for 30 seconds. After that there has been no peace appeal on Manipur from him. Ministers are saying they will speak, but as PM the power of his words cannot be matched by ministers."
