It is not about the numbers but for justice for Manipur as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a 'maun vrat ( a vow of silence)' to not speak in Parliament, said Congress leader Gogoi initiating the discussion on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI — High drama erupted in the Lok Sabha ahead of the discussion on the no-confidence motion after Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and not Rahul Gandhi initiated the discussion from the Congress, and the BJP questioned the change.
The BJP asked, ‘What changed in five minutes, we were enthusiastic to listen to him.”
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, when the House met once again, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “As per my information I came to know that a letter has arrived that Rahul Gandhi will speak in the place of Gaurav Gogoi.
“What happened sir, we were waiting for his speech. What has happened as the letter came at 11.55 a.m. Let us understand what has happened in five minutes. What is the problem, we are very enthusiastic to listen to Rahul Gandhi,” Joshi said after Gogoi replaced Rahul Gandhi to initiate the discussion on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.
Responding to Joshi, Gogoi said, “What discussions take place in the meeting of yours (Speaker) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we never ask.”
Following the remarks of Gogoi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “He (Gogoi) should say, you (Speaker) must tell, it is a serious allegation.”
“He has named you and the Prime Minister,|” Joshi said to Speaker Om Birla.
Then Birla urged the MPs to initiate the proceedings of the House.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi while initiating the discussion on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday said that it is not about the numbers but for justice for Manipur as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a ‘maun vrat ( a vow of silence)’ to not speak in Parliament.
“We thank you (Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla) for accepting the no-confidence motion of INDIA Alliance. When you asked who all are in support of the INDIA alliance, I thank everyone for supporting it,” said Gogoi.
He said, “This is our ‘majboori (compulsion)’ to bring the no-confidence motion. It was not about numbers but for the people of Manipur and for justice for Manipur.”
“Manipur is seeking justice, the women, daughters, youths and people of Manipur are demanding justice. Even Martin Luther King has said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” he said.
Gogoi pointed out that this is not happening anywhere it is happening in India. “If Manipur is burning then it is happening in India, if Manipur has been divided then it is India which has been divided. We are not only talking about Manipur but about India.
“Our only demand was that the Prime Minister should come forward in Parliament and then all parties will support him and give a message to Manipur that everyone is with them and peace and normalcy returns there,” he said.
The Congress MP then took a swipe at PM Modi and said, “But the Prime Minister took a ‘maun vrat (a vow of silence)’ to not speak in Parliament. So, we had to bring the no-confidence motion to break his silence.”
The Congress MP said, “We have three questions for him (the Prime Minister) one why did he not visit Manipur to date; why did it take almost 80 days to finally speak on Manipur and when he did speak it was just for 30 seconds; and why has the Chief Minister (N, Biren Singh) not been sacked so far.”
He also said that Rahul Gandhi went to Manipur, a delegation of INDIA alliance MPs visited Manipur and even Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the northeastern state.
The INDIA has moved a no-confidence motion against the government over Manipur violence. Violence in Manipur erupted on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have died whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in relief camps.
