Modi says no-confidence vote ‘defames India’, appeals for Manipur peace
NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday easily defeated a vote of no-confidence taken by the opposition over his handling of a deadly ethnic conflict in Manipur, and in a two-hour speech dismissed the move as a vain attempt to “defame India”.
More than 180 people have been killed, many hundreds more wounded and tens of thousands rendered homeless since May in Manipur, but Mr Modi failed to publicly address the violence until last month.
The no-confidence vote, moved by a new, Congress-led opposition alliance called “INDIA”, was easily defeated as expected, with opposition lawmakers walking out of the legislature in protest even before the motion was put to the vote.
Critics said Mr Modi’s refusal to address in public the ethnic conflict in a state ruled by his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reinforced perceptions that, in domestic matters, the interests his party and Hindu nationalist constituency come first.
“They love to defame India, they have no faith in the people of India, in the abilities of India,” Mr Modi said in his 130-minute speech, which was laced with nationalism and rhetorical flourishes.
“They have tried in vain to break the self-confidence of Indians with this no-confidence vote,” he said, speaking in Hindi. BJP lawmakers thumped their desks in approval and often cheered him by shouting “Modi, Modi”.
In what was effectively an election speech at the end of a three-day debate in parliament, Mr Modi listed the achievements of his nine years in power and trashed the record of his rivals.
The focus of the attacks was Congress, seen as the biggest threat to Mr Modi’s BJP.
The stand-off has raised the political temperature eight months before national elections are due in the world’s largest democracy – and one of its fastest growing economies – due in April-May 2024.
Surveys show Mr Modi remains highly popular and is widely expected to win a third term.
‘Peace efforts in Manipur’
On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ripped into Mr Modi’s handling of Manipur, saying his government had divided the state, broken it and burnt it.
Opposition lawmakers frequently shouted “Manipur, Manipur” as Mr Modi spoke on Thursday, seeking to get him to talk about it.
Mr Gandhi entered parliament after Mr Modi was about 75 minutes into his speech and the entire opposition walked out about 15 minutes later.
NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday easily defeated a vote of no-confidence taken by the opposition over his handling of a deadly ethnic conflict in Manipur, and in a two-hour speech dismissed the move as a vain attempt to “defame India”.
More than 180 people have been killed, many hundreds more wounded and tens of thousands rendered homeless since May in Manipur, but Mr Modi failed to publicly address the violence until last month.
The no-confidence vote, moved by a new, Congress-led opposition alliance called “INDIA”, was easily defeated as expected, with opposition lawmakers walking out of the legislature in protest even before the motion was put to the vote.
Critics said Mr Modi’s refusal to address in public the ethnic conflict in a state ruled by his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reinforced perceptions that, in domestic matters, the interests his party and Hindu nationalist constituency come first.
“They love to defame India, they have no faith in the people of India, in the abilities of India,” Mr Modi said in his 130-minute speech, which was laced with nationalism and rhetorical flourishes.
“They have tried in vain to break the self-confidence of Indians with this no-confidence vote,” he said, speaking in Hindi. BJP lawmakers thumped their desks in approval and often cheered him by shouting “Modi, Modi”.
In what was effectively an election speech at the end of a three-day debate in parliament, Mr Modi listed the achievements of his nine years in power and trashed the record of his rivals.
The focus of the attacks was Congress, seen as the biggest threat to Mr Modi’s BJP.
The stand-off has raised the political temperature eight months before national elections are due in the world’s largest democracy – and one of its fastest growing economies – due in April-May 2024.
Surveys show Mr Modi remains highly popular and is widely expected to win a third term.
‘Peace efforts in Manipur’
On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ripped into Mr Modi’s handling of Manipur, saying his government had divided the state, broken it and burnt it.
Opposition lawmakers frequently shouted “Manipur, Manipur” as Mr Modi spoke on Thursday, seeking to get him to talk about it.
Mr Gandhi entered parliament after Mr Modi was about 75 minutes into his speech and the entire opposition walked out about 15 minutes later.
