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The Modi government won the vote of confidence after 325 MPs voted in favour of the government while 126 MPs voted against. The majority mark in the house was 226 after some parties walked out.
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The Monsoon Session of the Parliament began on Wednesday, 18 July, with former NDA ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Samajwadi Party (SP) taking to the well of the Lok Sabha.
The TDP once again put forward its long-pending demand for a special status for Andhra Pradesh. The SP, on the other hand, protested the rising incidents of mob violence in the country.
ANI quotes sources as saying that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, on 19 July, spoke to Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha on Friday. CNN-News18 reported that Thackeray had assured Shah of Shiv Sena’s support to the government during the trust vote.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued a whip, directing its MPs to vote no-confidence, reported ANI.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday hinted that his party AIADMK might not back the no-confidence motion, saying the motion was moved by the TDP over an issue concerning Andhra Pradesh.
"You should understand. They (TDP) have moved the no-confidence motion for a problem concerning Andhra Pradesh. When AIADMK MPs from Tamil Nadu stalled Parliament (during the previous session), who did voice (support) for us, who came forward to solve the problems of Cauvery delta farmers?" he asked.
"Which state came forward? No state did," he told reporters in Salem in response to a query whether the AIADMK will support the motion.
The Congress said that the 'no-confidence motion' was more than a show of numbers and it will use the occasion to "expose" the government's "failure".
Addressing a press conference, Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said his party has the support of other opposition parties on the no-confidence motion which has been brought "to show the mirror to the government", highlight the various issues concerning the people of the country and ensure that the truth reaches them.
"It is not only a question of numbers. We will use the occasion to expose the government and raise various issues concerning the people of the country and tell the truth to the people. This is the launch of a campaign which will send them packing in 2019 Lok Sabha elections," he told reporters.
The BJP will get 3 hours 33 minutes to speak on the no-confidence motion against it, while the Congress has been alloted 38 minutes, reported ANI.
The time allotted to other parties is as following:
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will reportedly lead the Congress’ arguments for the no-confidence motion.
Apart from its main demand for special status to Andhra Pradesh, opposition parties have asked the TDP to raise issues such as lynching and communal violence to present a united front for a synchronised attack on the government during the discussion on the no-trust motion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.
According to a senior leader, the Congress's Gulam Nabi Azad had a discussion with other opposition leaders, who agreed that since other parties have supported the TDP's no-confidence motion, the southern party should also reciprocate and mention the issues raised by them in the House.
The ruling BJD in Odisha will reveal its stand on the no-confidence motion against the NDA-led Centre on the floor of the Parliament on Friday, a senior party leader told PTI.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with 19 MPs has the fifth largest number of members in the Lower House.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said that the party MPs have only received a direction to be present on Friday.
“Shiv Sena will work on directions of Uddhav Thackeray Ji. No-confidence Motion hasn't been moved by Shiv Sena, we will see what we have to do tomorrow. We have only been asked to be present in the Lok Sabha tomorrow,” said Sawant.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with Mallikarjun Khadge and Jyotiraditya Scindia are the speakers from Congress party.
Shiv Sena’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha Chandrakant Khaire told ANI that the earlier “notice” (whip) issued to the party MPs had said they must remain present in the Parliament all day long. The final decision as to whether the party will support the Modi government will be taken by the Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday, 20 July in the morning.
He further added, “There was no whip issued to vote one way or another.”
Another Sena source said the earlier whip was issued "by mistake" and it has been recalled as the Sena felt that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government is walking on thin ice in terms of numbers to cross the majority mark of 273 in the Lok Sabha, reported PTI.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government has lost the confidence of the people as they have already passed their no-confidence against him and his government and now they are only waiting for the 2019 elections, reported PTI.
“The game of numbers may be one thing, but Modi ji has lost the confidence of the people. Had he not lost the game of numbers too, they would not have prostrated before their allies and friendly parties,” Surjewala said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, hours before the Lok Sabha discusses the no-confidence motion, tweeted that it was an important day for India's parliamnetary democracy. "I am sure my fellow MP colleagues will rise to the occasion and ensure a constructive, comprehensive and disruption free debate. We owe this to the people and the makers of our Constitution. India will be watching us closely," he wrote.
Telugu Desam Party's Kesineni Srinivas will open the debate, for it was his no-confidence motion that was accepted for the discussion. Sources in the Congress told The Quint that a leader spoke to Chandrababu Naidu and asked if his MP would allow Rahul to initiate the debate. However, the Congress has not received any assurance as yet.
Four Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs will be supporting the TDP's no-confidence motion when the Lok Sabha discusses the matter later today, reported CNN-News18.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said the discussion will start at 11 am, adding that the nation was concerned about their stand. "Our party will make the right decision. Between 10:30 -11:00 am party chief will himself tell the party about his decision," Raut told ANI.
The Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) MPs are likely to walk out when the Lok Sabha discusses the no-confidence vote today, CNN-News18 reported.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur will represent the NDA in the Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, will be the first speaker from the Congress party. Among the leaders from the grand old party, Gandhi is likely to get the maximum time to put forward his argument during the trust vote today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leaders, and cabinet ministers will meet at 10:45 AM today ahead of the trust vote in the Lok Sabha, reported CNN-News18.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh, in a tweet, asked everyone to brace themselves for an “earthquake”. In doing so, Singh took a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who had in the past, said there would be an earthquake if he spoke for 15 minutes in Parliament.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and MPs Rakesh Singh, Virendra Singh Mast and Arjun Ram Meghwal will represent the government in the Lok Sabha during the no-confidence motion debate on Friday.
BJP President Amit Shah, along with Vijay Goyal, Ananth Kumar and Bhupendra Yadav, arrived at the Parliament ahead of the no-trust vote against the BJP-led government.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told Republic TV that his party will abstain from voting during the no-confidence motion debate in the Lok Sabha.
The proceedings in the Lok Sabha have begun. The debate on the no-confidence motion is yet to begin.
Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today accused Speaker Sumitra Mahajan of being unfair in allotting too little time to the opposition in the debate on the no-confidence motion and said the discussion cannot be treated as Question Hour.
The 32 minutes allotted to his party is grossly inadequate, Kharge said. A few minutes to each speaker is not enough to raise the host of issues, including those affecting farmers, women and Dalits, he added.
Some parties have been allotted 25 minutes and some just 15 minutes, Kharge pointed out. "....there is a problem of farmers, Dalit issues, women issues. Can these issues be explained in one minute. You need at least half an hour for each speaker. The biggest party is being allotted 32 minutes by the speaker and they say the allotment is as per rules," Kharge told reporters outside Parliament.
The speaker, he said, can bring an amendment in rules for allotment of more time.
The Biju Janata Dal has staged a walk out, saying that the debate on the no-confidence motion will neither yield anything to them nor bring any development to the state of Odisha.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced that the voting on the no-trust vote in the Lower House of the Parliament will take place at 6 pm on Friday.
Telugu Desam Party MP Jayadev Galla is currently addressing the Lok Sabha. The MP from the former NDA constituent launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, accusing them of betrayal. “The Modi regime is creating uncertainties,” Galla said, reminding the BJP of its promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh. “The saga of Andhra Pradesh during this Modi-Shah regime is a saga of empty promises.”
Shiv Sena MPs will not be attending the proceedings in the Lok Sabha today, news agency ANI reported.
Jayadev Galla questioned the seriousness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in the fight against corruption. Galla said the corrupt "Reddy brothers were given tickets" to contest in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. "Mr Modi while campaigning in Andhra Pradesh had said: ‘Congress killed the mother and saved the child. Had I been there, I would have saved the mother too.’ People of AP have waited for four long years for him to save their mother," Galla said. There hasn’t been any Vikas under the Modi regime, Galla added.
He said that the Congress was also responsible for the current state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, when asked about the JD(U)'s stand on the no-confidence motion, said his party will back the BJP during the no-trust vote at 6 pm today.
TDP MP Jayadev Galla has been speaking on the floor of the House for over 30 minutes now. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has requested Galla to conclude his remarks twice.
After a 35-minute-long speech by TDP MP Jayadev Galla, BJP MP Rakesh Singh has begun addressing the Lok Sabha. Singh started his speech by attacking the Congress, saying that “Galla was cursed as soon as he decided to join hands with the Congress”.
He said the Congress has just been about a single family and almost all their prime ministers have come from it. “They have done nothing but just scam politics in the country,” Singh added. “The Opposition didn’t have any concrete reason to move the motion against a government that has, over the last 4 years, performed very well,” said adding:
BJP MP Rakesh Singh took potshots at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had in the past said that the minorities had the first right on the resources of this country. He said that PM Modi changed it completely by saying that the poor of the country had the first right on the resources of the country.
Slamming the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, which faces a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha on Friday, BJP ally Shiv Sena said that India was being ruled by "butchers, who save animals but kill humans", PTI reported.
In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Sena alleged that the Modi government won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections through money, misuse of power and tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
"Those ruling the country today are butchers, who save animals but kill humans. There is absolute lack of compassion(in the minds of the rulers)... Winning elections and remaining in power by hook or crook is not democracy. Majority is never permanent. Country's people are supreme," it said.
The Sena, which is in alliance with the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said even the Opposition knows that it does not have the numbers to dislodge this government.
"This no-confidence motion has not been brought to pull down the Modi government, but to give it a sound thrashing," it said.
Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi has no consideration for the poor. He calls himself country's "chowkidaar" but when Amit Shah's son is questioned, he maintains silence.
He alleged that defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has lied to the nation about the Rafale deal under PM Modi’s pressure.
The farmers are asking the Prime Minister that he waived loans of Rs 250,000 crore for certain industrialists. However, he continues to deny any such relaxation to the farmers. "You mock them. Your finance minister mocks them," Rahul said.
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan has adjourned the House till 1:45 pm.
Addressing the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the no-confidence motion against the Modi-government, Congress President Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on PM Narendra Modi's "jumla strikes". Gandhi's claim that the PM can't even look into his eyes was met with laughter from Modi.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi resumed his speech in the Lok Sabha after he had to stop it midway when Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House a while back.
"For the first time the Indian government has failed to protect our women. People are getting killed but the Prime Minister chooses to maintain his silence. Whenever someone is assaulted, BR Ambedkar's Constitution is assaulted. This House is assaulted," said Rahul Gandhi.
Here are some highlights from Gandhi's speech:
Watch Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s Full Speech Here:
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, after completing his speech in the Lok Sabha, walked across the aisle and hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After returning to his seat, Rahul smiled and winked.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations over the Rafale deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak on the no-confidence motion post 6:30 pm according to ANI sources.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter to take a jibe at the Modi government after Congress President Rahul Gandhi hugged PM Modi in the Parliament.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal commented on Rahul Gandhi’s hug to Prime Minister Modi saying that the Parliament was no place for hugs and kisses.
“Ye sansad hai, ye Munna bhai ka pappi jhappi area nahin hai (This is the Parliament, not Munna Bhai’s area for hugs and kisses)”.
The BJP will move privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha over his 'false allegations', ANI reported.
BJP MP Kirron Kher said that Rahul Gandhi was targeting the ministers without any proof and he was doing drama in the House by hugging PM Modi.
“Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed, he can't target our ministers without any proof. He was doing drama in the house and hugging Modi ji. I think his next step will be Bollywood. We will have to send him there,” said Kher.
Minister Ananth Kumar, while addressing the media said that Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour in the Parliament was childish.
“His behaviour was childish. He has grown old but it is unfortunate that he has not grown up. It is unfortunate that the president of Congress is so ill-informed and immature,” he said.
Congress MP Rajiv Satav said that Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the House was like an earthquake.
“Rahul Gandhi had once said the day he will speak in the Parliament earthquake will come and today it has definitely come,” said Satav.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the House said that the BJP never brought in a no-confidence motion during the Manmohan Singh government becasue it respected people’s mandate.
“After 15 years, a no-confidence motion has been moved against a government. We never moved a no-confidence motion in ten years when Congress was in power because we understood that the Congress had people's mandate,” said Singh
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till 4.30 pm.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she did not mind anybody hugging in the House, but the decorum of the House and the prime minister’s chair should have been respected.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh slammed Rahul Gandhi for hugging PM Modi, saying that he started a “chipko andolan” in the Lok Sabha.
Further slamming Congress MP Shashi Tharoors’s comments of Hindu Pakistan, he said that such comments were highly unacceptable.
“Do we want the Pakistan ideology to stay alive in India? They (Congress) talk of Hindu Pakistan and Hindu Taliban, where do they want the country to head?” he said.
Union Minister Smriti Irani took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for hugging the Prime Minister in the House saying that the country had hugged PM Modi already in 2014.
“If you go by his comments of the desire to mend bridges, his claims that his heart is big enough, that itself shows his treacherous nature. the hug was nothing but treacherous in mature. I have already said that the nation has already hugged the PM in 2014, now Rahul Gandhi did too,” Irani told Times Now.
Priya Prakash Varrier, who shot to fame with her iconic wink in the trailer of the film Oru Adaar Love, said that she was happy Rahul Gandhi winked at Narendra Modi.
“I have just come back from college to see Rahul Gandhi wink at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament. He greeted him with a very sweet gesture. I am very happy that it was my signature moment in the movie where I started off,” said Varrier.
Mallikarjun Kharge, while addressing the House said that if the Congress had functioned the way the BJP is currently functioning, democracy wouldn’t have survived. He also asked where were the “acche din” that were promised.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced that the debate on the no-confidence motion has been extended till 7 pm.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s statement over the Rafale deal in the Parliament, France issued a statement saying that the privacy norms that were signed in 2008 were also applicable in 2016.
“We have noted the statement of Mr Rahul Gandhi before the Indian Parliament. France and India concluded in 2008 a Security agreement, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner that could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment of India or France. These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons,” the statement read, as quoted by ANI.
Union Minister Rajnath Sing took to Twitter to take a dig at Rahul Gandhi ahead of the voting on no-confidence motion in the Parliament.
Prime Minister Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 8.30 pm on the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition, according to sources.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Rahul Gandhi has learnt how to play politics and Rahul Gandhi’s hug was a jolt for the PM.
TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi said that the government has always indulged in whataboutery whenever important issues like mob lynching and job creation are raised.
“There is only one kind of reply to any question raised on the Government's development claims- Hindu-Musalman, Bharat-Pakistan aur Kabristan-Shamshan,” said Trivedi.
Congress MP Kamal Nath who skipped the no-confidence proceedings said that Madhya Pradesh was priority for him and has seen multiple no-confidence proceedings in the last 38 years.
J&KNC chief Farooq Abdullah while addressing the House said that Jammu and Kashmir has been waiting for years for peace. He said that the people of the state are as Indian as others and a solution needs to be found out for the Kashmir problem keeping Pakistan in the loop.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the Lok Sabha to address the House ahead of the voting on no-confidence motion.
Prime Minister Modi, while commenting on the Andhra Pradesh issue, said that he warned the TDP about falling into the YSR Congress’ trap.
“When TDP was leaving NDA, I called up Chandrababu Naidu, warned him that you are falling into YSR Congress' trap,” said Modi.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandranabu Naidu had however tweeted that he had tried to inform the PM about his decision of leaving the NDA, but he was unavailable.
Modi further alleged that TDP had initially agreed for a special package for the state rather than a special status, but took a U-turn to hide its own incompetence.
He further said that the Centre will do everything possible for the development of Andhra Pradesh.
Sitaram Yechury took to Twitter to slam PM Modi’s speech in the Lok sabha, calling it a repeat of jumlas and excuses.
The Modi government won the vote of confidence after 325 MPs voted in favour of the government while 126 MPs voted against. The majority mark in the house was 226 after some parties walked out.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house after the Modi government defeated the no-confidence motion by winning 325 votes.
Jyotiraditya Scindia reacted to PM Modi’s speech in the Lok Sabha saying that he did not say anything concerning the common man.
“PM in his 2-hour speech didn't address any of the woes of the common man. What BJP says and what it does is a difference between the reality and what they try and conjure up. That is the signal that has gone out,” said Scindia.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu while addressing the media said that the state was waiting for justice but was disappointed again.
“Entire Andhra Pradesh waited for justice, only to be disappointed again. They have majority but they breached neeti. PM's speech caused much pain,” said Naidu.
“As part of our continuous fight, we introduced this no-confidence motion. In the last four years, I went to Delhi 29 times. Instead of doing justice to Andhra Pradesh, he is resorting political attack on me alleging I took U-turn,” he added.
In a boost to the NDA, several AIADMK members opposed the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Modi government, PTI reported.
PM Modi took to Twitter to thank all the parties that voted in favour of the government in the no-confidence motion.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the numbers in favour of the Modi government increased because people’s faith had increased.
TDP MP YS Choudhary slammed Prime Minister Modi saying, “He has not even attempted to answer the outstanding issues of Andhra Pradesh, it was not expected from him. It is unfortunate.”
After the vote of confidence, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We posed questions to PM Modi on Rafael deal, Nirav Modi etc but he didn't answer any.”
Kharge then went on to say that Modi’s speech was 'dramebaazi' and that he told the house what the previous government did and not what his governmnet has done in four years.
Union Minister Smriti Irani has said that the defeat of Congress and the opposition is a precusor to their defeat in the year 2019.
“It gives public, at large, a sense of how scattered opposition is and has given citizens a look into what kind of strategy Congress is willing to embrace that there is instability in the country,” Irani added.
Published: 19 Jul 2018,12:23 PM IST