No Confidence Motion: “Congress urges the PM to break his “Maun Vrat ”on Manipur; BJP counters “PM won the trust of the people of NE”

Deputy leader of Congress, Gaurav Gogoi initiated the 1st day of ‘No Confidence’ motion debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He stated that the no confidence motion was never about votes and numbers to the Opposition Alliance ‘INDIA’ but, a measure to mount pressure on the Union Government and to get Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his “maun vrat” on the ongoing Manipur violence.

Gogoi asked three questions addressing the Prime Minister-

“ 1) Why did the PM not visit Manipur till date?
2) Why did it take almost 80 days for him to finally speak on Manipur?
3) Why has the PM not sacked the Manipur CM so far?”

According to the Congress Leader, the three primary reasons that has prompted Prime Minister Modi continued silence are — the "failure of the state government," the "failure of the home department and national security arrangement," and his "unwillingness to admit his mistakes."

Drawing inferences to a speech by Martin Luther King Jr in tandem to the Manipur Crisis, he said, "Manipur demands justice. Martin Luther King Jr had said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If Manipur is burning, the whole of India is burning, if Manipur is divided, the country is divided.”
While taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, the senior congress leader alleged that a government that has always promoted the idea of a unified India has in reality created a deep rift between the people of the hills and the people of the valley in Manipur. “One India has created two Manipurs - one living in hills and the other in the valley”, he said.

In response, Kiren Rijiju started his speech by stating that the no confidence motion has been tabled at a very wrong time, disrupting the slated activities of the House. "This no-confidence motion has been brought at a very wrong time. The Congress will regret it later”, said Rijiju. While taking a jibe at Gaurav Gogoi’s statement, he further stated that nothing can be achieved by naming an alliance I.N.D.I.A, when the alliance is actually working against the people of India.
“Before 2014, many people from the Northeast faced racial discrimination and atrocities in Delhi and other major cities of the country. After 2014 the situation changed, and the DGP conference was held in Guwahati for the first time after independence. During this meeting, the PM directed that police must ensure the security of people from the Northeast”, said the Minister of Earth Sciences claiming that the Prime Minister has worked towards a more inclusive society.

In addition, he refuted claims of ignorance of the Opposition, towards the North Eastern states of India and stated that, “Working for people and understanding their issues is how we can reach them. PM Modi won the trust of the people living in the eight Northeast states that way.” Moreover, he said that the rise of militancy is the main cause of violence in Manipur.
The debate on the no confidence motion that has been tabled by the Lok Sabha will span over two days, August 8 and 9, ending with the Prime Minister’s much anticipated speech on August 10.