325 ‘Noes’, 126 ‘Ayes’, No Confidence Motion against NDA-Govt rejected

No-trust vote a result of Oppn arrogance: Modi

21/07/2018

New Delhi, Jul 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Govern ment sailed through its first floor test in Lok Sabha by defeating the No-Confidence Motion moved by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday.
The government had a comfortable majority of 325 votes in its favour, who voted against the No Confidence Motion compared to 126 votes by the Opposition parties out of total 451 Members of Parliament present in Lok Sabha. Biju Janata Dal members had staged a walk-out while NDA ally Shiv Sena abstained from voting.
The NDA victory came after an 11-hour debate, followed by a 90 minute reply by the Prime Minister, during which he listed out the achievements of his government and underlined the failures of the Congress and its allies during their previous terms.
This was also the first major unity strength of the Opposition parties that are planning to come together for `Grand Alliance` hoping to fight Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BharatiyaJanata Party in the 2019 general elections.
Before the voting No Confidence Motion, Modi asked the Opposition to bring a similar motion again in 2024, clearly indicating that the BJP will be back in power again in 2019. The motion moved by TDP saw the MPs accusing the NDA government of neglecting Andhra Pradesh and not giving it Special Status. However, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the other beneficiary of the bifurcation of Andhra, supported NDA.
Replying to charges made by the Opposition parties, Prime Minister NarendraModi in a hard hitting speech attacked the Opposition parties for draining out the resources of the country for their own benefits.
While listing out the development work by his government, Prime Minister presented the report card of his government. He also took a dig at the Opposition unity building up by alerting the possible allies to be wary of Congress reputation of cheating its partners and bringing down the governments after using them.
Modi also criticised TDP for being opportunist and walking out alliance in view of elections. He said the NDA government was committed for the benefit of Andhra Pradesh people and assured that the Centre will work for the betterment of the state.
Earlier, the LokSabha saw a stormy time when Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the government accusing it on various counts. Rahul directly attacked Prime Minister over the Rafaledeal, and demonitisation and went on to critise the government's failure in providing employment and containing increase in petrol prices.
Rahul's speech saw Treasury benches on feet, especially at the time when he spoke on the Rafale deal. Rahul accused Defense Minister NirmalaSitharaman of lying to the nation about the secrecy pact with the Government of France.
Dubbing the no-trust vote against his government a result of the opposition's "arrogance", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all parties to dismiss the move and accused the Congress of working with the mindset of 'Modi hatao' (remove Modi). Responding to a day-long debate on the no-confidence motion, he said some people are indulging in "negative politics."
He also took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for asking him to stand up for a hug after walking across to his chair in the LokSabha, saying the Congress President appeared to be in a hurry to occupy his seat.
Only the electorate of the country can decide his fate and make him sit on his chair, Modi said, asking "what is the hurry". Gandhi was present in the House when the Prime Minister made the statement.
Modi said the floor test was not to measure the strenght of his government, rather it was a "force test" for the Congress and other opposition parties.
Government was not doing politics of appeasement or vote bank politics, but has been working with the philosophy of 'sabkasaath, sabkavikas'.
He said the NDA government has done several things for the benefit of the people, but the opposition does not believe in the facts. "We are taking steps for doubling the income of farmers by 2022," he said.
Modi said the opposition, especially the Congress does not trust the Chief Justice of India, the Election Commission and the electronic voting machines.
He said "those who don't have confidence in themselves, cannot trust anyone."
"I pray to God to give you the strength to bring a no- confidence motion in 2024 also. My best wishes are with you", the Prime Minister said, taking a dig at the opposition.
He also targetted the Congress saying the major opposition party had brought the no-trust motion "to spread instability in the country."
Referring to the Dokalam stand-off, he said "when the whole country was united at the time of Dokalam, you met the Chinese envoy," Modi said in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi. On Gandhi's allegations on the Rafale aircraft deal, he said "we must abstain from making childish statements on sensitive issues."
He also termed the surgical strikes as 'jumla strikes' as an insult to the security forces.
'bhagidar' (collaborator) and not a 'chowkidar' (watchman), Modi said he was in fact a partner in the aspirations of the people.
He said he was neither a 'saudagar' (trader), nor a 'thekedar' (contractor) like the Congress.
The Prime Minister said the Congress party had misused no-confidence motions to spread instability in the country to ensure that the Gandhi family remains in power.
Dubbing surgical strikes as 'jumla' strike is an insult to security forces, he questioned Gandhi's intent in targeting the armed forces.
Mocking the Congress president, he said it is a fact that he cannot see eye-to-eye with Gandhi, saying those who dared to do it, including stalwarts like former President Pranab Mukherjee, VallabhBhai Patel, former PM Morarji Desai and NCP chief SharadPawar, had to suffer.
"You are 'naamdaar' (dynast), I am 'kaamdar' (worker). I cannot dare to see eye-to-eye with you," he told Gandhi on his remark that he cannot look in the Congress leader's eyes.
"The entire nation saw what the eyes did today. It is clear in front of everyone," he said indicating Gandhi's apparent post-hug wink.
"Had it not been your arrogance, and had you understood the problems of the states, GST would have been implemented five years ago," the Prime Minister said.
atrocities against women and 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," Modi said in an apparent reference to mob lynching.
Referring to gender justice, he said his government stood with the Muslim women in their quest for justice.
The Prime Minister blamed Congress for the division of Andhra Pradesh in a manner which had left the people there unhappy. He said when the TDP decided to pull out of NDA, he had warned its leader N Chandrababu Naidu that his party was "getting entangled in a race of one-upmanship with the YSR Congress.
"Just because of your internal politics with the YSRCP, you are doing this, I had told the AP CM," Modi said, adding that the issue was now being raked up in Parliament.
He said his government will keep working for the people of Andhra Pradesh and "we will do everything possible for the development of the state," he said.
"NDA government," Modi said, "is committed towards the development of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana".
He said the government of AtalBihari Vajpayee had created Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
"It was done peacefully. These states are prospering ...
The Congress divided Andhra Pradesh and their conduct then was shameful," he said.

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