The Opposition argues that they will win the battle of perception
Parliament will take up the no-trust motion moved by the Opposition over the ongoing ethnic-clashes in Manipur next week.
Officials said the debate will be held in the Lok Sabha from August 8 to August 10 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the no-confidence motion on August 10.
The violence in Manipur has been a key reason for the continuous logjam in both the Houses of Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on July 20.
The government had said that Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation, but the Opposition parties had been demanding detailed response from the Prime Minister on the crucial matter.
The no-confidence motion, filed by Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi, needed the backing of 50 members in the House – a number they easily achieved with the support of other Congress lawmakers as well as those who are part of the ‘I.N.D.I.A’ coalition.
MPs belonging to the Opposition alliance bloc INDIA, including Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, DMK’s TR Baalu and NCP leader Supriya Sule, stood up for the head count when the Lok Sabha speaker presented the motion.
In the 543-member Lok Sabha, the ruling NDA currently has a strength of 331. The Opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance has 144 members in the House.
The Opposition argues that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate.