Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion Aims to Break PM Modi’s “Vow of Silence” on Manipur: Gaurav Gogoi

New Delhi, August 8, 2023: Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP, addressed the Lok Sabha on August 8, shedding light on the rationale behind the Opposition bloc’s no-confidence motion against the government.

Gogoi emphasized that the motion was fueled by the intention to shatter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s self-imposed “vow of silence” concerning Manipur.

Taking the podium to initiate the debate, Gogoi alleged that the government’s proclamation of “one India” stood contradicted by Manipur’s stark division into two separate spheres—the hills and the valley.

As the Lower House ventured into the motion presented by Gogoi, tensions flared between the Opposition and the treasury benches when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi questioned the eleventh-hour withdrawal of Rahul Gandhi as the lead speaker.

Gogoi’s subsequent response, suggesting the disclosure of Prime Minister Modi’s comments made in Speaker Om Birla’s chamber, triggered a sharp retort from Home Minister Amit Shah, who challenged Gogoi’s unsubstantiated assertions about the PM.

Unveiling his motion, Gogoi underscored that the no-confidence motion wasn’t simply a numerical game but a quest for justice for Manipur, asserting, “Manipur demands justice. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Gogoi elucidated the motion’s goal: to break Prime Minister Modi’s “maun vrat (vow of silence)” on Manipur. He highlighted the gravity of the country’s leader addressing Manipur’s concerns and questioned the lag in the PM’s response.

Gogoi probed, “Why did he take about 80 days to address Manipur and then spoke for just 30 seconds?” With a focus on the Prime Minister’s influential words, he emphasized that ministers couldn’t match the potency of his communication.