Modi's government survives no-confidence motion in Indian parliament

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Aug 2023 19:06

Indian opposition lawmakers walk out of a no-confidence motion in parliament, with the government then winning the vote.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (AFP)

The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Thursday after a fiery speech by the premier at the climax of a three-day debate.

Opposition lawmakers -- who had brought the motion over months of ethnic violence in Manipur state -- walked out of the chamber, prompting a furious rebuke from the Prime Minister, with the government then winning the vote.

The walkouts, according to broadcasters, included Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, who on Wednesday said Modi's government was "set on burning the whole country."

Modi denounced the walkouts, saying, "Those who don't trust democracy are always ready to make a comment but don't have the patience to hear (the rebuttal)."

They would "speak ill and run away, throw garbage and run away, spread lies and run away," he added.

"This is their game and the country can't expect much from them."

Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a large majority in the 543-member lower house and is widely expected to win a third term.

It has already achieved two landslide victories over Gandhi and his Congress party.

"I can understand the Congress party's problem," Modi said on Thursday. "They have been launching the same failed product again and again, but the launch fails every time."

Gandhi, 53, is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of three former Indian premiers. He spearheaded the parliamentary attack on the government Wednesday, condemning what he said was Modi's inaction over the deadly Manipur violence.

At least 152 people have been killed in Manipur since May, according to government figures, after armed clashes broke out between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community.

In a speech to lawmakers, Gandhi considered that Modi was "killing Mother India."

It is noteworthy that the opposition leader was restored to parliament on Monday after the Supreme Court suspended his defamation conviction over past comments criticizing Modi. He had been sentenced to two years of imprisonment in March.