The opposition’s no-confidence motion was defeated on Thursday, August 10, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to speak in Parliament for the first time about the violent Manipur.
The longest motion of no confidence response by Narendra Modi was 133 minutes.
Despite his lengthy speech that was packed with digs at the opposition, Modi only spoke about the violence in Manipur for three minutes.
A defense of Biren Singh’s BJP-led government in the state, which has seen more than 150 killings, rapes, arsons, weapon looting, and continuous ethnic strife, was also included in the three minutes.
The no-confidence motion was proposed by the minority Opposition in an effort to force the prime minister to speak about Manipur in Parliament. Following three full days of remarks by different MPs, Narendra Modi responded in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The opposition MPs staged a walkout in protest, and the word “Manipur” wasn’t even mentioned until 93 minutes into the prime minister’s speech.
For an hour and a half, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) MPs yelled at Modi to bring up Manipur before leaving the meeting. Modi’s address had been amusing the new 26-party Opposition front up until that moment, and the MPs on the treasury benches had praised his digs and jokes.
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The opposition’s refusal to agree to a discussion that was solely about Manipur irritated Modi, who remarked as much when Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered to speak in the House.
“Home Minister Amit Shah gave a detailed response of two hours on the situation in Manipur without politicising. He expressed the concerns of the government and the country. It was also aimed at educating the country. It was an honest attempt to chart out a path to resolve issues, but except for politicising, the Opposition doesn’t want to do anything,”Modi said regarding Shah’s speech.
He then addressed the actual violence in Manipur after this.
“Like Shah said, there was a court order in Manipur. We know what is happening in the courts. Following the verdict, violence began. Many families have suffered and lost their kin too. There have been serious crimes against women. These crimes are unpardonable,” the prime minister said.
“The Union government and state government together are making all efforts to ensure the strictest of punishment to the perpetrators. I want to assure all citizens of the country that the efforts we are making will ensure there is sunrise of peace in Manipur. Manipur will once again move forward with new confidence.”
“To the people of Manipur, I want to say, to the women of Manipur I want to say that the country is with you, this House is with you. We will all together find a solution to this problem and establish peace once again. I assure the people of Manipur that the state will once again tread the path of development,” Modi added, before reverting to his attack on Opposition parties, primarily the Congress.
Prime Minister Modi brought up Manipur again to blame the state’s former Congress administrations for concerns with law and order and militancy.
“Whose government was in Manipur when national anthems weren’t allowed to be sung in schools? When books were burnt? When temples were forced to shut down by 5 pm and the army had to be deployed for protection? When bombs were being flung at temples? When IAS/IPS officers had to pay a portion of their salaries to militants?” Modi asked, with MPs and ministers in the treasury benches responding to each question in unison — “Congress”.
Modi defended the BJP government led by Biren Singh despite several demands for his ouster by the Opposition as well as Kuki tribes in the state.
“In the last six years, our government in Manipur is striving to bring development to the state,” Modi added.
