Representational
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar on Tuesday said that the government has a majority in the Lok Sabha and it is ready to face the opposition's no-confidence motion.
"The BJP and the NDA will face the no-confidence motion, which the opposition wants to bring, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Kumar told media after a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) here. He said that in the House, the NDA has a huge mandate.
"The people of the country have given a huge mandate to the NDA and it has a majority in the House," he said.
Kumar's remarks came soon after the Congress party announced that it will bring a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the monsoon session of Parliament and that it is in talks with other opposition parties on the issue.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that the Prime Minister has asked the NDA leaders to expose the opposition parties which are raking up several issues to take political mileage. "Modi also urged the NDA leaders to work unitedly," he said.
The meeting was attended by PM Modi, leaders of Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, Janata Dal-United, Apna Dal and other NDA allies.
The NDA meeting was preceded by a BJP Parliamentary party executive meeting which was attended by PM Modi, party president Amit Shah, L.K. Advani, M.M. Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders.
Kumar further said that the NDA members in the meeting hailed Modi for his historic decision to increase the minimum support price of the produce of farmers.
"The NDA leaders told Prime Minister that through his decision to increase the MSP, farmers across the country are happy."
They also hailed the PM for Aayushman Bharat scheme which is popularly known as Modicare scheme.
The Congress party on Tuesday announced that it will bring a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the monsoon session of Parliament. The party added that it is in talks with other opposition parties on the issue. The session begins on Wednesday and will end on August 10.
Addressing the media, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would raise several issues for discussion in the session such as those of women's safety, "misrule" in Jammu and Kashmir, dilution of SC/ST Act, attempts to abolish reservation policy and issues of farmers, besides special status to Andhra Pradesh.
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He also criticised the government for allegedly ignoring rules in appointing heads of autonomous institutions, rising petrol and diesel prices, depreciation of the rupee and "worsening" foreign policy.
The senior Congress leader also accused the government of indulging in corruption during demonetisation and alleged that there was a scam in Ahmedabad District Co-operative bank accepting over Rs 750 crore -- highest among cooperative banks -- post the note ban announcement.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah is the Director of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative, Kharge underlined.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also submitted a notice for no-trust motion. It has asked the Lok Sabha Secretary-General to include the no-trust motion in the list of business for Wednesday, the opening day of the session. RJD has decided to support TDP.
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It is pertinent to mention here that a number of opposition parties had given notices for no-confidence motion during the Budget session but Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had rejected all of them.
The Monsoon Session of the Parliament will begin on Wednesday, July 18, and will end on August 10. During the 18 sittings spread over a period of 24 days, the Houses are listed to take up 48 items - 46 bills and two financial items.
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(With inputs from agencies)
