BJP led NDA govt wins No Confidence motion in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha rejected the No Confidence motion against the government, moved by a former NDA ally TDP, decisively last night after a marathon 12-hour debate. The NDA bagged 325 votes against the motion, while 126 members voted in favour. Members of the Shiv Sena, BJD and TRS were not present in the House when the voting took place. Several AIADMK members supported the government and voted against the motion. A total of 451 out of 534 MPs were present and voted in the house bringing down the majority mark required to 226. 

This was the first no-trust motion against Narendra Modi government after it came to power in May 2014 and less than a year before the next general elections. 

Replying to the debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the motion as Opposition's arrogance. He said, it is not a floor test of the government, but a force test of Congress and its allies. He urged all parties to dismiss the move and accused the Congress party of working with the mind set of 'Modi hatao'.

Mr Modi asserted that the NDA government has done several things for the benefit of the people especially women, vulnerable sections, youth and farmers, but the Opposition does not believe in facts. He said, without appeasement and vote banks politics, his government is serving the nation on the philosophy of Sabka Saath - Sabka Vikas.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the NDA will return to power next year and asked the Opposition to bring the No Confidence again in 2024.

In a blunt retort to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's accusation against the Prime Minister being a Bhaagidaar in corruption, Mr Modi asserted that they are Bhaagidaars to people's dreams, to the poor people of the country. He said, he is Chawkidaar and Bhaagidaar, but not a Saudagar or Thekedaar. 

The Prime Minister hit back at Mr Gandhi and asked him to abstain from making childish statements on sensitive issues like national security. He said, the surgical strike against Pakistan-based terror camps must not be called a 'jumla' as it would amount to insulting the security forces. 

Mr Modi rejected the allegations on Rafale deal and assured the House that the governments of India and France signed the pact maintaining full transparency. 

Speaking about the Doklam stand-off with China, Mr Modi hit



out at the Congress saying that when the entire country was united, Mr Rahul Gandhi was meeting the Chinese envoy.

The Prime Minister added that the Congress does not have confidence in itself and it also does not trust any of the country's institutions like RBI and Election Commission, Judiciary and International Agencies.

On a veiled reference to Mr Gandhi's wink, Mr Modi said, the entire country saw what the eyes did today. He said, he is a Kaamdaar and Mr Gandhi is a Naamdaar.

On the incidents of lynching, the Prime Minister urged all state governments to punish those who indulge in violence saying that any such incident brings shame to the nation.

On Black Money, Mr Modi said, the fight will continue. He said, the government took action against over 2 lakh 50,000 shell companies and they have been closed. He informed the house that another 2 lakh such companies are under scanner.

On Non Performing Assets issues, the Prime Minister said, the problem has been inherited from the UPA government. He accused the Congress of giving new loans without recovering the old ones. Mr Modi asserted that during 60 years, only 18 lakh crore loans were sanctioned but during the period from 2008 to 2014, the amount reached 52 lakh crore rupees.

On the issue of demand of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, the Prime Minister assured the House and the people of Andhra Pradesh that his government will continue to work for them and will do everything possible for the development. He said, the government is committed to the development of the state.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Jayadev Galla of Telugu Desam Party, that had moved the motion against the government, charged the NDA regime with making empty promises to Andhra Pradesh from the time of its bifurcation in 2014.

Participating in the discussion, Mr Rahul Gandhi had accused the NDA government of giving only lofty promises to the people.

Soon after the government sailed through the motion, Mr Modi thanked all the parties that supported him in the vote. He said in a tweet that his government's efforts to transform India and fulfill the dreams of the youth will continue. Mr Modi said, the ruling NDA has the confidence of the Lok Sabha as well as 125 crore people of India.