News Analysis India

Tag: no confidence motion

  • All no-confidence motions defeated or inconclusive in past, govts fell thrice on confidence motions

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: As the Lok Sabha debates a no-confidence motion brought against the Narendra Modi government by the opposition, the 28th such motion to be admitted in the Lower House, data compiled by a think tank shows all previous ones have either been defeated or remained inconclusive.

    However, at least thrice governments have fallen during vote on a “motion of confidence”, which is a motion brought by the government to prove its strength.

    A no-confidence motion is a formal proposal moved by a member against the government in Lok Sabha under Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.

    According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, the highest number of no-confidence motions – 15 – in the history of independent India was moved against governments led by Indira Gandhi.

    Longest-serving prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whose tenure lasted 16 years and 286 days, faced only one no-confidence motion, which was moved in the aftermath of India’s bitter loss to China in the 1962 war.

    The motion was, however, defeated. The only time a no-confidence motion triggered the fall of a government was in 1979.

    A motion moved against the Morarji Desai government had led to his resignation, even as the debate remained inconclusive and there was no voting.

    Thrice governments have fallen during the vote of confidence – the V P Singh government in 1990, the H D Deve Gowda government in 1997 and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999.

    On November 7, 1990, V P Singh moved a Motion of Confidence. The motion was defeated after the BJP withdrew its support over the Ram temple issue.

    He lost the motion by 142 votes to 346 votes. In 1997, the H D Deve Gowda government lost a vote of confidence on April 11.

    Deve Gowda’s 10-month-old coalition government fell as 292 MPs voted against the government, while 158 MPs supported.

    After coming to power in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had moved a confidence motion, which he lost by one vote on April 17, 1999 due to the withdrawal of support by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

    Here is the list of no-confidence motions moved previously:

    1.August 1963 – The first ever no-confidence motion was moved in the third Lok Sabha in August 1963 against Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by Congress leader Acharya Kripalani.

    This was immediately after losing to China in the 1962 war. The debate went on for four days, for over 20 hours.

    Eventually, the motion was defeated, with only 62 MPs supporting it and 347 opposing it.

    2. September 1964 – A no-confidence motion was moved by N C Chatterjee against the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri.

    Voting took place on September 18, 1964, and 307 MPs voted against the motion while 50 voted for it.

    The motion was defeated.

    3. March 1965 – The motion was moved by Kendrapara MP S N Dwivedy against Lal Bahadur Shastri government.

    Debate took place on March 16, 1965, and the motion was defeated with only 44 MPs supporting it, while 315 voted against it.

    4. August 1965 – A no-confidence motion was moved by erstwhile Swatantra Party MP MR Masani.

    Voting took place on August 26, 1965, and was negated with only 66 MPs supporting it, while 318 MPs opposed the motion.

    5. August 1966- Indira Gandhi, a Rajya Sabha MP at the time took over as the Prime Minister in January 1966.

    A no-confidence motion against her government was moved by Communist Party of India MP Hirendranath Mukherjee.

    The motion was supported by 61 MPs, while 270 MPs opposed it and the motion was defeated.

    6. November 1966 – Indira Gandhi’s government faced a second no-confidence motion in a year, which was moved by UM Trivedi, noted lawyer and politician of Bharatiya Jan Sangh.

    The motion was defeated with 36 MPs supporting it, and 235 MPs voting against it.

    7. March 1976 – In the fourth Lok Sabha, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had moved a no-confidence motion against the Indira Gandhi government.

    The trust vote took place on March 20, 1967, and 162 MPs voted against the government, while 257 voted in support.

    This was the highest number of votes polled in support of a no-confidence motion against the government till the time.

    8. November 1967 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Madhu Limaye against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on November 24, 1967, and was defeated with 88 MPs supporting it, and 215 MPs opposing it.

    9. February 1968 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Balraj Madhok against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on February 28, 1968, and was defeated with 75 MPs supporting it, and 215 MPs opposing it.

    10. November 1968 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s Kanwar Lal Gupta.

    Voting took place on November 13, 1968, and was defeated with 90 MPs supporting it, and 222 opposing it.

    11. February 1969 – A motion was moved against the government led by Indira Gandhi by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P Ramamurti.

    The motion was supported by 86 MPs, and opposed by 215 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    12. July 1970 – A motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by Madhu Limaye.

    The motion got support of 137 MPs, and opposed by 243 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    13. November 1973 – A motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by CPI-M MP Jyotirmoy Basu.

    The motion was defeated, with 251 MPs opposing it while 54 MPs supported it.

    14. May 1974 – Jyotirmoy Basu again moved a motion against the Indira Gandhi government.

    The motion was defeated on May 10, 1974 by voice vote.

    15. July 1974 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Jyotirmoy Basu against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on July 25, 1974, and was supported by 63 MPs while 297 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    16. May 1975 – A little more than a month before the Emergency was enforced on June 25, 1975, a no-confidence motion was moved by Jyotirmoy Basu again.

    The motion was defeated by voice vote on May 9, 1975.

    17. May 1978 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Morarji Desai government by then leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha C M Stephen.

    On May 11, 1978, the motion was defeated by voice vote.

    18. July 1979 – A no-confidence motion was moved against Morarji Desai government by YB Chavan.

    Even though the debate remained inconclusive, Desai resigned from his post and retired from politics.

    This was the only time a government fell following a no-confidence motion, even as there was no voting on the motion.

    19. May 1981 – In the seventh Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion was move against Indira Gandhi government by George Fernandes.

    Voting took place on May 9, 1981. It was supported by 92 MPs and opposed by 278 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    20. September 1981 – A motion against the Indira Gandhi government was moved by CPI-M MP Samar Mukherjee.

    Voting took place on September 17, 1981, and was supported by 86 MPs, while it was opposed by 297 MPs.

    21. August 1982 – A no-confidence motion was moved against Indira Gandhi government by HN Bahuguna, a former Congress leader who quit the party when Emergency was implemented.

    Voting took place on August 16, 1982, and was supported by 112 MPs while 333 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    22. December 1987 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Rajiv Gandhi government by C.

    Madhava Reddy.

    On December 11, 1982, the motion was defeated by voice vote.

    23. July 1992 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the P V Narasimha Rao government by BJP’s Jaswant Singh.

    Voting took place on July 17, 1992. It was a close contest, with 225 MPs supporting it, while 271 MPs opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    24. December 1992 – A second no-confidence motion in that year was moved by Atal Bihari Vajpayee against the Narasimha Rao.

    Voting took place on December 21, 1992, after over 21 hours of debate.

    The motion was defeated with 111 MPs supporting it, and 336 MPs opposing it.

    25. July 1993 – The third no-confidence motion in the Narasimha Rao government was moved by Ajoy Mukhopadhyay.

    After over 18 hours of debate, the motion was defeated, with 265 MPs opposing it, while 251 supported it.

    26. August 2003 – Then Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi moved a no-confidence motion against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

    After an over 21 hours long debate, the motion was defeated on August 19, 2003, with 314 MPs opposing the motion, while 189 supported it.

    27. July 2018 – The most recent no-confidence motion was moved by Srinivas Kesineni of Telugu Desam Party against the Narendra Modi government.

    After around 11 hours of debate, the motion was put to vote on July 20, 2018.

    It was supported by 135 MPs, while 330 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    NEW DELHI: As the Lok Sabha debates a no-confidence motion brought against the Narendra Modi government by the opposition, the 28th such motion to be admitted in the Lower House, data compiled by a think tank shows all previous ones have either been defeated or remained inconclusive.

    However, at least thrice governments have fallen during vote on a “motion of confidence”, which is a motion brought by the government to prove its strength.

    A no-confidence motion is a formal proposal moved by a member against the government in Lok Sabha under Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, the highest number of no-confidence motions – 15 – in the history of independent India was moved against governments led by Indira Gandhi.

    Longest-serving prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whose tenure lasted 16 years and 286 days, faced only one no-confidence motion, which was moved in the aftermath of India’s bitter loss to China in the 1962 war.

    The motion was, however, defeated. The only time a no-confidence motion triggered the fall of a government was in 1979.

    A motion moved against the Morarji Desai government had led to his resignation, even as the debate remained inconclusive and there was no voting.

    Thrice governments have fallen during the vote of confidence – the V P Singh government in 1990, the H D Deve Gowda government in 1997 and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999.

    On November 7, 1990, V P Singh moved a Motion of Confidence. The motion was defeated after the BJP withdrew its support over the Ram temple issue.

    He lost the motion by 142 votes to 346 votes. In 1997, the H D Deve Gowda government lost a vote of confidence on April 11.

    Deve Gowda’s 10-month-old coalition government fell as 292 MPs voted against the government, while 158 MPs supported.

    After coming to power in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had moved a confidence motion, which he lost by one vote on April 17, 1999 due to the withdrawal of support by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

    Here is the list of no-confidence motions moved previously:

    1.August 1963 – The first ever no-confidence motion was moved in the third Lok Sabha in August 1963 against Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by Congress leader Acharya Kripalani.

    This was immediately after losing to China in the 1962 war. The debate went on for four days, for over 20 hours.

    Eventually, the motion was defeated, with only 62 MPs supporting it and 347 opposing it.

    2. September 1964 – A no-confidence motion was moved by N C Chatterjee against the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri.

    Voting took place on September 18, 1964, and 307 MPs voted against the motion while 50 voted for it.

    The motion was defeated.

    3. March 1965 – The motion was moved by Kendrapara MP S N Dwivedy against Lal Bahadur Shastri government.

    Debate took place on March 16, 1965, and the motion was defeated with only 44 MPs supporting it, while 315 voted against it.

    4. August 1965 – A no-confidence motion was moved by erstwhile Swatantra Party MP MR Masani.

    Voting took place on August 26, 1965, and was negated with only 66 MPs supporting it, while 318 MPs opposed the motion.

    5. August 1966- Indira Gandhi, a Rajya Sabha MP at the time took over as the Prime Minister in January 1966.

    A no-confidence motion against her government was moved by Communist Party of India MP Hirendranath Mukherjee.

    The motion was supported by 61 MPs, while 270 MPs opposed it and the motion was defeated.

    6. November 1966 – Indira Gandhi’s government faced a second no-confidence motion in a year, which was moved by UM Trivedi, noted lawyer and politician of Bharatiya Jan Sangh.

    The motion was defeated with 36 MPs supporting it, and 235 MPs voting against it.

    7. March 1976 – In the fourth Lok Sabha, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had moved a no-confidence motion against the Indira Gandhi government.

    The trust vote took place on March 20, 1967, and 162 MPs voted against the government, while 257 voted in support.

    This was the highest number of votes polled in support of a no-confidence motion against the government till the time.

    8. November 1967 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Madhu Limaye against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on November 24, 1967, and was defeated with 88 MPs supporting it, and 215 MPs opposing it.

    9. February 1968 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Balraj Madhok against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on February 28, 1968, and was defeated with 75 MPs supporting it, and 215 MPs opposing it.

    10. November 1968 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s Kanwar Lal Gupta.

    Voting took place on November 13, 1968, and was defeated with 90 MPs supporting it, and 222 opposing it.

    11. February 1969 – A motion was moved against the government led by Indira Gandhi by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P Ramamurti.

    The motion was supported by 86 MPs, and opposed by 215 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    12. July 1970 – A motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by Madhu Limaye.

    The motion got support of 137 MPs, and opposed by 243 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    13. November 1973 – A motion was moved against the Indira Gandhi government by CPI-M MP Jyotirmoy Basu.

    The motion was defeated, with 251 MPs opposing it while 54 MPs supported it.

    14. May 1974 – Jyotirmoy Basu again moved a motion against the Indira Gandhi government.

    The motion was defeated on May 10, 1974 by voice vote.

    15. July 1974 – A no-confidence motion was moved by Jyotirmoy Basu against the Indira Gandhi government.

    Voting took place on July 25, 1974, and was supported by 63 MPs while 297 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    16. May 1975 – A little more than a month before the Emergency was enforced on June 25, 1975, a no-confidence motion was moved by Jyotirmoy Basu again.

    The motion was defeated by voice vote on May 9, 1975.

    17. May 1978 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Morarji Desai government by then leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha C M Stephen.

    On May 11, 1978, the motion was defeated by voice vote.

    18. July 1979 – A no-confidence motion was moved against Morarji Desai government by YB Chavan.

    Even though the debate remained inconclusive, Desai resigned from his post and retired from politics.

    This was the only time a government fell following a no-confidence motion, even as there was no voting on the motion.

    19. May 1981 – In the seventh Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion was move against Indira Gandhi government by George Fernandes.

    Voting took place on May 9, 1981. It was supported by 92 MPs and opposed by 278 MPs.

    The motion was defeated.

    20. September 1981 – A motion against the Indira Gandhi government was moved by CPI-M MP Samar Mukherjee.

    Voting took place on September 17, 1981, and was supported by 86 MPs, while it was opposed by 297 MPs.

    21. August 1982 – A no-confidence motion was moved against Indira Gandhi government by HN Bahuguna, a former Congress leader who quit the party when Emergency was implemented.

    Voting took place on August 16, 1982, and was supported by 112 MPs while 333 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    22. December 1987 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the Rajiv Gandhi government by C.

    Madhava Reddy.

    On December 11, 1982, the motion was defeated by voice vote.

    23. July 1992 – A no-confidence motion was moved against the P V Narasimha Rao government by BJP’s Jaswant Singh.

    Voting took place on July 17, 1992. It was a close contest, with 225 MPs supporting it, while 271 MPs opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

    24. December 1992 – A second no-confidence motion in that year was moved by Atal Bihari Vajpayee against the Narasimha Rao.

    Voting took place on December 21, 1992, after over 21 hours of debate.

    The motion was defeated with 111 MPs supporting it, and 336 MPs opposing it.

    25. July 1993 – The third no-confidence motion in the Narasimha Rao government was moved by Ajoy Mukhopadhyay.

    After over 18 hours of debate, the motion was defeated, with 265 MPs opposing it, while 251 supported it.

    26. August 2003 – Then Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi moved a no-confidence motion against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

    After an over 21 hours long debate, the motion was defeated on August 19, 2003, with 314 MPs opposing the motion, while 189 supported it.

    27. July 2018 – The most recent no-confidence motion was moved by Srinivas Kesineni of Telugu Desam Party against the Narendra Modi government.

    After around 11 hours of debate, the motion was put to vote on July 20, 2018.

    It was supported by 135 MPs, while 330 opposed it.

    The motion was defeated.

  • No-confidence motion at wrong time, in wrong manner: Kiren Rijiju

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said the Congress and other opposition parties have brought the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha at a “wrong time and in a wrong manner.”

    The minister said that at a time when Prime Minister Modi has emerged as the world leader and the country was marching ahead to become a developed nation by 2047, there was no need for such a motion against the government.

    Instead, he said, the opposition should join hands with the government to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and work towards achieving the target set by the prime minister for the next 25 years.

    “Congress and opposition parties will regret bringing in the no-confidence motion at the wrong time and in a wrong manner,” the minister said.

    Participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav asked why Prime Minister Modi was not present in Lok Sabha during the debate on the no-confidence motion, to which he has to respond.

    “Is it not the moral and political responsibility of the BJP? We requested the prime minister to come to the House but he is not present even today,” she added.

    On the other hand, Rijiju urged the opposition parties to be “a part of this great journey to make India a developed country,” as he recalled the achievements of the Modi government in various fields, including economy, sports and space technology.

    “You may not like BJP or Modi, but you should support India,” he said, adding, “You should not oppose India by assuming the name INDIA (opposition alliance).” India, he said, has become the fastest-growing economy in the world because of the various initiatives taken by the government since 2014.

    Rijiju further said that Chandrayan-3 is in the final stages and will land on the south pole of the moon on August 23.

    He also urged the members not to speak against the country in foreign universities as it only supports the domestic eco-system which is against India.

    Talking about the European Parliament resolution on developments in Manipur, the minister said India is strong enough to deal with domestic issues and no foreign power needs to interfere in the affairs of the country.

    Referring to the issues facing the northeast, Rijiju said it was the Modi government which paid special focus on the region and today rail lines are being laid in several parts of the region.

    The prime minister wants the northeast to become an engine of growth, he added.

    He regretted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hardly met MPs from the northeastern states though he himself represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha.

    Rijiju attributed the current problems in Manipur to the negligent attitude of the previous Congress governments.

    Under the current government, the coverage area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been reduced by 75 per cent, he said.

    The minister also talked about the success of the Fit India programme of the Modi government and said even MPs on both sides are looking more fit now.

    Dimple Yadav alleged that what is happening in Manipur is “state-sponsored ethnic violence” and blamed the BJP-led governments in the state and at the Centre for the situation there.

    “The incident of Manipur is not an ordinary incident and the government has had a very insensitive approach,” she said.

    Referring to a viral video of two women being stripped and paraded by a mob in Manipur on May 4, she said, “It was a complete violation of human rights. Using women as instruments of perpetrating violence is simply unacceptable. This incident has been condemned in the whole world.”

    “It is a state-sponsored ethnic violence. If the visuals would not have come out on social media, no one would have known. Who is responsible? Women were paraded naked and raped. How many FIRs have been acted upon?” she said.

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said the Congress and other opposition parties have brought the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha at a “wrong time and in a wrong manner.”

    The minister said that at a time when Prime Minister Modi has emerged as the world leader and the country was marching ahead to become a developed nation by 2047, there was no need for such a motion against the government.

    Instead, he said, the opposition should join hands with the government to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and work towards achieving the target set by the prime minister for the next 25 years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Congress and opposition parties will regret bringing in the no-confidence motion at the wrong time and in a wrong manner,” the minister said.

    Participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav asked why Prime Minister Modi was not present in Lok Sabha during the debate on the no-confidence motion, to which he has to respond.

    “Is it not the moral and political responsibility of the BJP? We requested the prime minister to come to the House but he is not present even today,” she added.

    On the other hand, Rijiju urged the opposition parties to be “a part of this great journey to make India a developed country,” as he recalled the achievements of the Modi government in various fields, including economy, sports and space technology.

    “You may not like BJP or Modi, but you should support India,” he said, adding, “You should not oppose India by assuming the name INDIA (opposition alliance).” India, he said, has become the fastest-growing economy in the world because of the various initiatives taken by the government since 2014.

    Rijiju further said that Chandrayan-3 is in the final stages and will land on the south pole of the moon on August 23.

    He also urged the members not to speak against the country in foreign universities as it only supports the domestic eco-system which is against India.

    Talking about the European Parliament resolution on developments in Manipur, the minister said India is strong enough to deal with domestic issues and no foreign power needs to interfere in the affairs of the country.

    Referring to the issues facing the northeast, Rijiju said it was the Modi government which paid special focus on the region and today rail lines are being laid in several parts of the region.

    The prime minister wants the northeast to become an engine of growth, he added.

    He regretted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hardly met MPs from the northeastern states though he himself represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha.

    Rijiju attributed the current problems in Manipur to the negligent attitude of the previous Congress governments.

    Under the current government, the coverage area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been reduced by 75 per cent, he said.

    The minister also talked about the success of the Fit India programme of the Modi government and said even MPs on both sides are looking more fit now.

    Dimple Yadav alleged that what is happening in Manipur is “state-sponsored ethnic violence” and blamed the BJP-led governments in the state and at the Centre for the situation there.

    “The incident of Manipur is not an ordinary incident and the government has had a very insensitive approach,” she said.

    Referring to a viral video of two women being stripped and paraded by a mob in Manipur on May 4, she said, “It was a complete violation of human rights. Using women as instruments of perpetrating violence is simply unacceptable. This incident has been condemned in the whole world.”

    “It is a state-sponsored ethnic violence. If the visuals would not have come out on social media, no one would have known. Who is responsible? Women were paraded naked and raped. How many FIRs have been acted upon?” she said.

  • Lok Sabha briefly disrupted as Oppn protests tickers on Sansad TV ‘highlighting govt works’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence motion following opposition members’ loud protest against tickers running on Sansad TV that highlighted development works of the government during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

    Soon after BJP member Nishikant Dubey began speaking against the motion, several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC and the DMK, protested over the issue.

    Some members of the treasury benches, including ministers, were seen taking a swipe at the Opposition for its inability to come to terms with the development ushered in by the government.

    Speaker Om Birla sought to calm down opposition members, noting that a different system was in place to run the Sansad TV after it was created following the merger of the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV.

    He later said he has given instructions, a suggestion that the tickers will stop running, and that happened in a couple of minutes.

    Opposition members were seen saying that tickers should only refer to the current proceedings in the House.

    A debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition against the government is on and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on August 10.

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha was briefly disrupted on Tuesday during a discussion on the no-confidence motion following opposition members’ loud protest against tickers running on Sansad TV that highlighted development works of the government during the live broadcast of the debate in the House.

    Soon after BJP member Nishikant Dubey began speaking against the motion, several opposition members, including the Congress, TMC and the DMK, protested over the issue.

    Some members of the treasury benches, including ministers, were seen taking a swipe at the Opposition for its inability to come to terms with the development ushered in by the government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Speaker Om Birla sought to calm down opposition members, noting that a different system was in place to run the Sansad TV after it was created following the merger of the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV.

    He later said he has given instructions, a suggestion that the tickers will stop running, and that happened in a couple of minutes.

    Opposition members were seen saying that tickers should only refer to the current proceedings in the House.

    A debate on the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition against the government is on and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply on August 10.

  • Modi dials Naveen, firms up BJD support in Parliament

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik enjoy a good political rapport, though the BJD differs from the BJP on many issues in the state. Amid persisting suspense over Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) support to the Centre against the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, a call was reportedly made by Modi on Tuesday morning to the Odisha CM. That brought smiles back on BJP MPs’ faces. The BJD agreed to support the BJP-led NDA government against the no-trust motion, which would be tabled in the Lok Sabha possibly on August 8, a source in BJD said.

    A top source in BJP, speaking to this newspaper, confirmed the Modi-Naveen communication. “It changed the entire scenario. Patnaik has spoken to his party colleagues about issuing a three-line whip to support the government against the no-confidence motion as well as the Bill replacing the Delhi ordinance.“Both these leaders enjoy tremendous rapport with each other, which is above party politics. Both of them are development-oriented politicians. The BJD is now against the no-confidence motion and also supports the government on the Delhi ordinance,” said a senior BJD functionary.

    Sources said the Modi-Patnaik conversation lasted a few minutes. The BJD support came even though both these parties in Odisha are against each other on certain issues. The good news for the BJP came as disruptions over the Manipur issue continued to rock the Lok Sabha for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. Speaker Om Birla skipped the proceedings on Wednesday to express his displeasure over the conduct of the Opposition and treasury benches alike.

    YSRCP member Midhun Reddy and BJP member Kirit Solanki, who are on the panel of chairpersons, chaired the proceedings in Lok Sabha which saw vociferous protests over the situation in Manipur by Opposition members, who demanded a statement from the Prime Minister. Home Minister Amit Shah had offered to respond to the debate on the Manipur situation, but the Opposition insisted on a statement from the Prime Minister.

    While Reddy was in the chair during the question hour, when Lok Sabha convened for the day at 11 am, Solanki presided over the post-lunch session at 2 pm. On both occasions, Opposition and BJP members were seen raising slogans and the House proceedings were adjourned within minutes of convening.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik enjoy a good political rapport, though the BJD differs from the BJP on many issues in the state. Amid persisting suspense over Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) support to the Centre against the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, a call was reportedly made by Modi on Tuesday morning to the Odisha CM. That brought smiles back on BJP MPs’ faces. The BJD agreed to support the BJP-led NDA government against the no-trust motion, which would be tabled in the Lok Sabha possibly on August 8, a source in BJD said.

    A top source in BJP, speaking to this newspaper, confirmed the Modi-Naveen communication. “It changed the entire scenario. Patnaik has spoken to his party colleagues about issuing a three-line whip to support the government against the no-confidence motion as well as the Bill replacing the Delhi ordinance.“Both these leaders enjoy tremendous rapport with each other, which is above party politics. Both of them are development-oriented politicians. The BJD is now against the no-confidence motion and also supports the government on the Delhi ordinance,” said a senior BJD functionary.

    Sources said the Modi-Patnaik conversation lasted a few minutes. The BJD support came even though both these parties in Odisha are against each other on certain issues. The good news for the BJP came as disruptions over the Manipur issue continued to rock the Lok Sabha for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. Speaker Om Birla skipped the proceedings on Wednesday to express his displeasure over the conduct of the Opposition and treasury benches alike.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    YSRCP member Midhun Reddy and BJP member Kirit Solanki, who are on the panel of chairpersons, chaired the proceedings in Lok Sabha which saw vociferous protests over the situation in Manipur by Opposition members, who demanded a statement from the Prime Minister. Home Minister Amit Shah had offered to respond to the debate on the Manipur situation, but the Opposition insisted on a statement from the Prime Minister.

    While Reddy was in the chair during the question hour, when Lok Sabha convened for the day at 11 am, Solanki presided over the post-lunch session at 2 pm. On both occasions, Opposition and BJP members were seen raising slogans and the House proceedings were adjourned within minutes of convening.

  • All bills passed after the admission of no-trust motion constitutionally suspect, says Manish Tewari

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday claimed that all bills passed after the no-confidence motion was admitted in the Lok Sabha are ‘constitutionally suspect’ and asserted that any substantive legislative business must succeed the outcome of the motion, not precede it.

    The former Union minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to ‘steamroll’ bills.

    The Lok Sabha MP’s assertion comes as the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance is set to come up in the House this week.

    READ MORE: Opposition ‘INDIA’, BRS move no-confidence motion against Modi government in Lok Sabha

    In an interview with PTI, Tewari said once the no-confidence motion has been tabled in the Lok Sabha, any legislation or material business brought before the HouseThe former Union Minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to ‘steamroll’ Bills is completely in violation of morality, propriety and parliamentary conventions.

    He claimed the very legality of all the legislations which have been passed in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha after the no-confidence motion was admitted would have to be examined by a court of law as to whether they were legally passed or not.

    “All legislative business transacted after the no-confidence motion was tabled is “constitutionally suspect”, he claimed.

    On the BJP comparing the 2018 no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government and the massive mandate it got in the 2019 elections with the current scenario, Tewari said, “If history repeats itself once, it is a tragedy and if it does so twice, it is a farce.”

    A no-confidence motion by the Congress on behalf of the opposition alliance INDIA against the government was admitted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid concerted efforts by the anti-BJP bloc to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the contentious Manipur issue in Parliament.

    Asked about the numbers not adding up for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc for the no-confidence motion, Tewari said it was not a question of numbers but of morality.

    “What has happened in Manipur and what is continuing to happen there is absolutely reprehensible. There is a BJP government in the state, there is a BJP government at the Centre. Therefore, somebody needs to take responsibility,” Tewari told PTI.

    He said the opposition expected the prime minister to make a suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament on the ‘extremely critical situation’ in Manipur and that statement would have been succeeded by a discussion.

    But, unfortunately, the prime minister chose to make a very ‘cursory remark’ just before the commencement of the Monsoon session.

    READ MORE: PM Modi breaks silence over ethnic violence in Manipur after video shows mob molesting women

    After that, adjournment motions tabled in both Houses of Parliament repeatedly were not admitted by the presiding officers, the Congress leader said.

    “Thus the joint opposition was left with no option but to bring this no-confidence motion to enforce the principle of morality, probity and accountability in public life which must be the sine qua non of any governance,” he asserted.

    Asked about the expectations from Prime Minister Modi’s response to the no-confidence motion, Tewari said the motion states that “this house expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers” and the reason for that want of confidence has publicly been articulated ‘ad nauseum’ for the past one week.

    “So under those circumstances, if the prime minister chooses not to respond to Manipur it would be a travesty,” the MP from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib said.

    On the BJP’s contention that in the past instances of violence in the northeast, ministers have replied and not the prime minister, Tewari said the Modi government could have accepted adjournment motions submitted by opposition MPs.

    “We had been tabling adjournment motions every day. The government could have accepted the adjournment motions which can be replied to by a minister. The government chose not to accept them,” he said.

    “Under these circumstances, if the prime minister could speak outside Parliament and say that the developments in Manipur have made our heads hang in collective shame then what was the hesitation and diffidence in coming and addressing Parliament on the same issue,” Tewari argued.

    Asked whether the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance should be brought after the no-confidence motion is deliberated and voted upon, Tewari said, “Even (the book by) MN Kaul and SL Shakdher, which I had quoted, is explicit that once the no-confidence motion is accepted by the Speaker, no other business should be given precedence.”

    Tewari recalled that in July 1966 when a no-confidence motion was brought against the government, the then minister for parliamentary affairs, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, had accepted the fact that once such a motion is before the House, no other material business should be transacted.

    Asked about the opposition’s insistence on discussing the no-confidence motion immediately despite the rules talking of a 10-day period for scheduling, Tewari said it was for the simple reason that when there is want of confidence in the council of ministers, what is the locus that the government to bring legislations and get them passed in the House.

    “Those 10 days are there because if the presiding officer in his wisdom wants to adjourn the House and take it up at a later point in time within 10 days, that flexibility has been given to the presiding officer to schedule the vote of confidence,” he said.

    It is not a period that can be utilised to ‘steamroll’ legislations or substantive policy matters through the House without any discussion, the Congress leader asserted.

    Asked whether the constituents of the INDIA alliance would take part in the debate if the bill to replace Delhi ordinance is taken up for consideration before the no-confidence motion or will they oppose its introduction and boycott it till the motion is taken up, Tewari said that would be a call which the INDIA alliance has to take.

    There is a general sense that the ordinance is a ‘Serious assault on federalism’, he said.

    “According to me, every legislation, important or unimportant, should succeed the outcome of a no-confidence motion and not precede it,” the Congress MP said.

    On disruption rather than debate becoming the norm, Tewari said while disruption is a legitimate parliamentary tactic, the responsibility of running Parliament rests squarely on the shoulders of the government.

    The doctrine of disruption being a legitimate parliamentary tactic was not coined by the Congress but by the BJP’s Arun Jaitely when he was the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, he said.

    NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday claimed that all bills passed after the no-confidence motion was admitted in the Lok Sabha are ‘constitutionally suspect’ and asserted that any substantive legislative business must succeed the outcome of the motion, not precede it.

    The former Union minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to ‘steamroll’ bills.

    The Lok Sabha MP’s assertion comes as the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance is set to come up in the House this week.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    READ MORE: Opposition ‘INDIA’, BRS move no-confidence motion against Modi government in Lok Sabha

    In an interview with PTI, Tewari said once the no-confidence motion has been tabled in the Lok Sabha, any legislation or material business brought before the HouseThe former Union Minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to ‘steamroll’ Bills is completely in violation of morality, propriety and parliamentary conventions.

    He claimed the very legality of all the legislations which have been passed in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha after the no-confidence motion was admitted would have to be examined by a court of law as to whether they were legally passed or not.

    “All legislative business transacted after the no-confidence motion was tabled is “constitutionally suspect”, he claimed.

    On the BJP comparing the 2018 no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government and the massive mandate it got in the 2019 elections with the current scenario, Tewari said, “If history repeats itself once, it is a tragedy and if it does so twice, it is a farce.”

    A no-confidence motion by the Congress on behalf of the opposition alliance INDIA against the government was admitted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid concerted efforts by the anti-BJP bloc to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the contentious Manipur issue in Parliament.

    Asked about the numbers not adding up for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc for the no-confidence motion, Tewari said it was not a question of numbers but of morality.

    “What has happened in Manipur and what is continuing to happen there is absolutely reprehensible. There is a BJP government in the state, there is a BJP government at the Centre. Therefore, somebody needs to take responsibility,” Tewari told PTI.

    He said the opposition expected the prime minister to make a suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament on the ‘extremely critical situation’ in Manipur and that statement would have been succeeded by a discussion.

    But, unfortunately, the prime minister chose to make a very ‘cursory remark’ just before the commencement of the Monsoon session.

    READ MORE: PM Modi breaks silence over ethnic violence in Manipur after video shows mob molesting women

    After that, adjournment motions tabled in both Houses of Parliament repeatedly were not admitted by the presiding officers, the Congress leader said.

    “Thus the joint opposition was left with no option but to bring this no-confidence motion to enforce the principle of morality, probity and accountability in public life which must be the sine qua non of any governance,” he asserted.

    Asked about the expectations from Prime Minister Modi’s response to the no-confidence motion, Tewari said the motion states that “this house expresses want of confidence in the council of ministers” and the reason for that want of confidence has publicly been articulated ‘ad nauseum’ for the past one week.

    “So under those circumstances, if the prime minister chooses not to respond to Manipur it would be a travesty,” the MP from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib said.

    On the BJP’s contention that in the past instances of violence in the northeast, ministers have replied and not the prime minister, Tewari said the Modi government could have accepted adjournment motions submitted by opposition MPs.

    “We had been tabling adjournment motions every day. The government could have accepted the adjournment motions which can be replied to by a minister. The government chose not to accept them,” he said.

    “Under these circumstances, if the prime minister could speak outside Parliament and say that the developments in Manipur have made our heads hang in collective shame then what was the hesitation and diffidence in coming and addressing Parliament on the same issue,” Tewari argued.

    Asked whether the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance should be brought after the no-confidence motion is deliberated and voted upon, Tewari said, “Even (the book by) MN Kaul and SL Shakdher, which I had quoted, is explicit that once the no-confidence motion is accepted by the Speaker, no other business should be given precedence.”

    Tewari recalled that in July 1966 when a no-confidence motion was brought against the government, the then minister for parliamentary affairs, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, had accepted the fact that once such a motion is before the House, no other material business should be transacted.

    Asked about the opposition’s insistence on discussing the no-confidence motion immediately despite the rules talking of a 10-day period for scheduling, Tewari said it was for the simple reason that when there is want of confidence in the council of ministers, what is the locus that the government to bring legislations and get them passed in the House.

    “Those 10 days are there because if the presiding officer in his wisdom wants to adjourn the House and take it up at a later point in time within 10 days, that flexibility has been given to the presiding officer to schedule the vote of confidence,” he said.

    It is not a period that can be utilised to ‘steamroll’ legislations or substantive policy matters through the House without any discussion, the Congress leader asserted.

    Asked whether the constituents of the INDIA alliance would take part in the debate if the bill to replace Delhi ordinance is taken up for consideration before the no-confidence motion or will they oppose its introduction and boycott it till the motion is taken up, Tewari said that would be a call which the INDIA alliance has to take.

    There is a general sense that the ordinance is a ‘Serious assault on federalism’, he said.

    “According to me, every legislation, important or unimportant, should succeed the outcome of a no-confidence motion and not precede it,” the Congress MP said.

    On disruption rather than debate becoming the norm, Tewari said while disruption is a legitimate parliamentary tactic, the responsibility of running Parliament rests squarely on the shoulders of the government.

    The doctrine of disruption being a legitimate parliamentary tactic was not coined by the Congress but by the BJP’s Arun Jaitely when he was the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, he said.

  • Showdown time as Birla admits no-trust motion

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Opposition on Wednesday set the stage for a showdown in the Lok Sabha with Speaker Om Birla admitting a no-confidence motion against the Centre moved by Congress member from Guwahati Gaurav Gogoi. 

    The Opposition is way short of numbers to inflict any damage on the ruling coalition but it hopes to get the optics right ahead of the Lok Sabha elections by coaxing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the Manipur situation.

    Birla said the date for the discussion and voting on the motion will be decided after holding talks with leaders of all political parties. As per convention, once admitted the discussion on the motion has to be held within 10 days. 

    However, sources said the government may take up the motion only toward the fag end of the session as it is looking to push through a clutch of legislations first. It has already managed to pass important legislations, such as the Multi-State Cooperatives Societies Bill, the Biological Diversity Bill and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The session will conclude on August 11.

    But leaders of the 26-party Opposition alliance, INDIA, demanded that the Speaker immediately take up the motion for discussion after suspending all other business. “The tradition is that once the motion is accepted by the Speaker, all other business is suspended and discussion is initiated immediately,” Congress member Manish Tewari said, adding that if 100 or more MPs support the motion, then it will be inappropriate to carry out any other business in Parliament.

    In all, there were two no-trust motions, one by the Congress and the other by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which  though is not part of the Opposition alliance. This is the second no-confidence motion since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The first one was in 2018 by the Telugu Desam Party and backed by several other Opposition parties. The NDA defeated it 325-126.

    Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, said the Opposition was forced to move the motion as a last-ditch attempt, as the government had stonewalled their demand for a statement from the PM on Manipur. Another leader said that though the Opposition does not have the numbers, they will win the battle of ‘perception and morality’.

    The NDA had 331 on its side with the BJP alone contributing 303 to the tally in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition bloc has 144 and the BRS nine. Fence-sitters such as the YSRCP and BJD have 22 and 12 members, respectively.

    Shocked and horrified: U.S.The US on Wednesday said it is “shocked and horrified” by the strip-parade video of two women in Manipur and supports the Indian government’s efforts to seek justice for them. “We encourage a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the violence in Manipur,” Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department said

    Abandoned houses torched Mobs set ablaze 30 abandoned houses and two buses in two separate incidents in Manipur. A mob of around 2,000 people torched the houses in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh on Wednesday morning. Four others were also damaged. The houses belonged to Meiteis who left the place after violence broke out on May 3

    NEW DELHI:  The Opposition on Wednesday set the stage for a showdown in the Lok Sabha with Speaker Om Birla admitting a no-confidence motion against the Centre moved by Congress member from Guwahati Gaurav Gogoi. 

    The Opposition is way short of numbers to inflict any damage on the ruling coalition but it hopes to get the optics right ahead of the Lok Sabha elections by coaxing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the Manipur situation.

    Birla said the date for the discussion and voting on the motion will be decided after holding talks with leaders of all political parties. As per convention, once admitted the discussion on the motion has to be held within 10 days. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    However, sources said the government may take up the motion only toward the fag end of the session as it is looking to push through a clutch of legislations first. It has already managed to pass important legislations, such as the Multi-State Cooperatives Societies Bill, the Biological Diversity Bill and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The session will conclude on August 11.

    But leaders of the 26-party Opposition alliance, INDIA, demanded that the Speaker immediately take up the motion for discussion after suspending all other business. “The tradition is that once the motion is accepted by the Speaker, all other business is suspended and discussion is initiated immediately,” Congress member Manish Tewari said, adding that if 100 or more MPs support the motion, then it will be inappropriate to carry out any other business in Parliament.

    In all, there were two no-trust motions, one by the Congress and the other by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which  though is not part of the Opposition alliance. This is the second no-confidence motion since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The first one was in 2018 by the Telugu Desam Party and backed by several other Opposition parties. The NDA defeated it 325-126.

    Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, said the Opposition was forced to move the motion as a last-ditch attempt, as the government had stonewalled their demand for a statement from the PM on Manipur. Another leader said that though the Opposition does not have the numbers, they will win the battle of ‘perception and morality’.

    The NDA had 331 on its side with the BJP alone contributing 303 to the tally in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition bloc has 144 and the BRS nine. Fence-sitters such as the YSRCP and BJD have 22 and 12 members, respectively.

    Shocked and horrified: U.S.
    The US on Wednesday said it is “shocked and horrified” by the strip-parade video of two women in Manipur and supports the Indian government’s efforts to seek justice for them. “We encourage a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the violence in Manipur,” Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department said

    Abandoned houses torched 
    Mobs set ablaze 30 abandoned houses and two buses in two separate incidents in Manipur. A mob of around 2,000 people torched the houses in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh on Wednesday morning. Four others were also damaged. The houses belonged to Meiteis who left the place after violence broke out on May 3

  • Himachal Assembly begins debate on no-confidence motion against BJP government 

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Thursday began a debate on a no-confidence motion brought by the opposition Congress and the CPM against the Jai Ram Thakur-led state government.

    Starting the debate on the second day of the ongoing monsoon session, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated under the BJP government.

    He said 354 murders, 1,574 rapes and 7,406 molestation cases have so far been reported in the hill state under the Thakur-led government.

    The debate started at 11 am and would continue till 3 pm. Chief Minister Thakur is expected to give his reply at 3 pm.

    The notice for the motion was given by 22 Congress MLAs and the lone CPM legislator in the assembly on Wednesday.

    The speaker told the House on Wednesday that the notice was given at 9.50 am under Rule 278 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

    “The notice stated the House expresses no confidence in the council of ministers as the government fails on all fronts,” the speaker had said.

    The BJP has 43 MLAs in the 68-member House, while the Congress has 22. There are two Independents and one CPI(M) MLA.

    SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Thursday began a debate on a no-confidence motion brought by the opposition Congress and the CPM against the Jai Ram Thakur-led state government.

    Starting the debate on the second day of the ongoing monsoon session, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated under the BJP government.

    He said 354 murders, 1,574 rapes and 7,406 molestation cases have so far been reported in the hill state under the Thakur-led government.

    The debate started at 11 am and would continue till 3 pm. Chief Minister Thakur is expected to give his reply at 3 pm.

    The notice for the motion was given by 22 Congress MLAs and the lone CPM legislator in the assembly on Wednesday.

    The speaker told the House on Wednesday that the notice was given at 9.50 am under Rule 278 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

    “The notice stated the House expresses no confidence in the council of ministers as the government fails on all fronts,” the speaker had said.

    The BJP has 43 MLAs in the 68-member House, while the Congress has 22. There are two Independents and one CPI(M) MLA.

  • No-confidence motion against Sri Lankan President likely on April 19

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Amid the severe economic crisis, extreme shortage of essentials, and street protests, the Sri Lankan Parliament is likely to reconvene between April 19 to 22 in a bid to bring about a no-confidence motion against President Gotabaya Rajapaksha.

    “We have called a meeting with all opposition leaders and will take a day a final decision soon,’’ said Sri Lankan opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa.

    Meanwhile, India has sent a consignment of food and vegetables to Sri Lanka today, in its bid to continue assisting the Island nation.

    “I think India has helped the most, even in non-financial ways so we are thankful. No Chinese investments have been done yet, the only discussions going on with China are regarding the repayment of loans,’’ said former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

    Wickremesinghe said during their rule there was a surplus on the primary budget and money to pay debts. The present government is responsible for the economic crisis.

    India has already supplied over 270,000 MT of fuels to Sri Lanka till now and granted $2.5 billion line of credit. Sri Lanka needs an additional $3 billion in funds to keep it afloat.

    ALSO READ | Learn from the decline of Sri Lanka

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had assured Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksha (who visited India twice in recent months) that India would stand with Sri Lanka as it occupies a central role in New Delhi’s `neighbourhood first policy.’

    Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage which has limited its imports of essentials and they are now dependent on assistance from neighbours like India.

    In February the country was left with only $2.31 billion in its reserves but faces debt payments of $4 billion in 2022 – this includes a $1 billion International Sovereign Bond (ISB) maturing in July. ISB makes up the largest share of  Sri Lanka’s $12.55 billion foreign debt.

    IMF is expected to initiate a loan to Sri Lanka during the course of this week.

    Meanwhile, there is a trickle of refugees too coming into India. Around 40 refugees have already come to Tamil Nadu. In addition, there are over 1 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils who live in India.

  • Haryana: Day before no-confidence vote, JJP MLA Babli says he stands with farmers

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: A day before the Haryana assembly takes up a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government, JJP MLA Devender Singh Babli on Tuesday said he stands with protesting farmers but added that he alone could not take a decision and it was for his party to decide on walking out of the ruling alliance.

    Asked about his party issuing a whip to its MLAs for their compulsory presence in the House on Wednesday and his stand on the no-confidence motion, Babli said, “When the party has issued whip, willingness or non-willingness is not the question, one has to go by what the party has decided.”

    On farmer leaders spearheading the stir against the Centre’s new farm laws requesting all MLAs to support the no-confidence motion, Babli said, “If I alone take a stand, will farmers get justice? The voice I am raising in favour of farmers by being a member of the House, will I be able to do that when my party expels me for taking a different stand.”

    Babli, who was interacting with reporters after the end of the day’s proceedings in the assembly, said, “You should understand. Entire party should withdraw support, Dushyant (Chautala) should take a step if this issue (farmers) is not being resolved. All (JJP) MLAs should come out (of the alliance).”

    He said during party legislature group meetings in the past Deputy Chief Minister and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala had been telling them the farmers issue will be resolved.

    Asked why Chautala is not listening to his MLAs when majority of them have openly come out in support of farmers, Babli replied, “Don’t you know that? He thinks he can get more benefits for the farmer by being part of the government.”

    To another question, he said, “I have come in support of farmers and even today I have the same stand. Earlier too, I had said the situation wherein ruling party legislators are facing opposition from farmers in villages is not good and this issue should be resolved.”

    Talking to reporters after the day’s proceedings in the state assembly ended on Tuesday evening, former chief minister and Congress leader B S Hooda reiterated, “The no-confidence motion will let people know which MLA stands with the government and which MLA stands with farmers.”

    He said the party needed to move a no-confidence motion because the BJP-JJP government has lost public confidence and the coalition government, betraying public opinion, is taking anti-people decisions one after the other.

    When asked that opposition did not have the numbers on their side, Hooda quipped, “But that does not mean opposition will not play its role.”

    With the Congress’s no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government set to be taken up in the Haryana Assembly on Wednesday, the ruling BJP-JJP as well as main the opposition party have issued whips to their respective members for their compulsory presence in the House.

    In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, currently having an effective strength of 88 members, the ruling BJP has 40 members, the JJP 10 and the Congress 30.

    Seven are Independents, five of whom are supporting the government, while one member is of the Haryana Lokhit Party, who has also extended support to the government.