Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked all parties to reject the no-confidence motion moved against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha.
“The country has seen today how some people have fallen into the trap of negative politics,” the prime minister said according to ANI. “People have seen how there is an opposition to development.”
“Many people are wondering why the no-confidence motion has been moved in the Lok Sabha,” Modi added. “The Opposition does not have the numbers. Then why has motion been introduced in Parliament?” The prime minister said the motion “is not a floor test of the government, but a forced test of the Congress’ allies”.
‘Some people want to be prime minister’
“Some people have a desire to become the prime minister,” Modi added. “But only 125 crore Indians can decide who takes that post.” The prime minister claimed that an MP had come to him during the debate in the morning, and asked him to get up. “What is his hurry to come to power? Let me tell this member that it is the people who elected us,” he said.
Modi said that the government had worked for the electrification of 18,000 villages, most of them in Northeast and Eastern India, which had been in darkness for 70 years. “It is this government that is bringing a scheme like Ayushman Bharat, which will give the best quality healthcare to the poor,” he added. The prime minister also claimed that toilets had been constructed “at a record pace”, The Indian Express reported.
“The Indian economy is being strengthened and India is also strengthening the global economy,” Modi said. The prime minister added that the fight against black money will continue, “I know I have made many enemies due to this but it is fine,” he claimed.
‘Congress has no faith in any institution’
Modi alleged that the Congress had no faith in the judiciary, the Election Commission, the Reserve Bank of India or international agencies. “One of the leaders spoke about Doklam [standoff]. The same leader, who believed the Chinese ambassador over our forces,” Modi claimed.
“Due to one careless allegation in the House on Rafale, both nations had to release statements,” Modi said in a likely reference to reference to Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s comments that French President Emmanuel Macron had told him there was no secrecy pact between India and France. “My appeal to the Congress is please do not bring politics into national security.”
‘Don’t insult the army’
“You called the surgical strike a ‘jumla’,” Modi told the Congress. “You can abuse me as much as you want. Stop insulting the jawans of India. You can abuse me as much as you want. Stop insulting the jawans of India.”
The prime minister attacked United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He said that in 1999, she had destabilised the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and “never formed one herself”. Modi claimed that the Congress had destabilised several governments in the past, and “bought votes with the power of notes” on two occasions.
In response to Gandhi’s claim that the prime minister cannot make eye contact with him, Modi said: “Who am I to look at you in the eyes? You are naamdaar [dynast], but I am kaamdaar [working class], how can I dare to look at you in the eyes?”
He said that the National Democratic Alliance government is committed to the development of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. “Congress divided Andhra Pradesh, and their conduct was shameful,” he alleged. “Whether it is the construction of new capital Amaravati or the welfare of farmers in the state, I want to assure everyone that the Centre will make all efforts for Andhra Pradesh.” He claimed that the Telugu Desam Party left the NDA “to hide its own mistakes”.
Congress responsible for NPAs with banks
The prime minister blamed the Congress for the large percentages of non-performing assets with banks, claiming it began because the party “invented phone banking”.
On incidents of mob lynching across the country, Modi said: “Any instance of violence brings shame to the nation. I will once again urge the state governments to punish those who indulge in violence.”
The Telugu Desam Party was the first to move the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. The party, which rules Andhra Pradesh, had served notice of the no-trust vote to the Lok Sabha secretariat on Tuesday. After Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Majahan accepted the motion, which has been backed by 11 other Opposition parties, the party issued a three-line whip, asking its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House on July 19 and July 20.
In March, Mahajan did not admit a no-confidence motion moved by the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress in the Budget Session after the House was adjourned several times.
Though the majority mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha is 272, the government needs 267 votes to win the no-confidence motion because 10 seats are vacant. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance has 313 members, including the Speaker.
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