Lok Sabha is set to engage in a no-confidence motion debate from August 8 to August 10, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to respond to the opposition-sponsored move on the final day.
The decision to schedule the no-confidence motion debate was reached during the Lok Sabha’s business advisory committee (BAC) meeting, even as members of the INDIA alliance walked out in protest against the debate not being given priority.
According to a senior leader, “The debate on the no-confidence motion will begin on August 8 and continue till August 10 when the prime minister will reply to the debate.”
The opposition bloc INDIA, comprising parties like Congress, DMK, Left parties, TMC, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, demanded an immediate discussion on the motion and expressed their dissent over the government’s emphasis on pushing its legislative agenda this week.
In response, the government contended that there are no rules or precedents mandating an immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion. It asserted that rules state the motion should be taken up for discussion within 10 working days of being admitted.
Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, highlighted that the Lok Sabha was adjourned after the INDIA alliance parties insisted on Prime Minister Modi’s presence in the House and his statement on the Manipur issue.
Tagore expressed their alliance’s desire for the no-confidence motion to be taken up on the following day itself, citing a precedent from the 16th Lok Sabha when a similar motion by TDP was listed the next day. In protest, the INDIA alliance members walked out of the speaker’s business advisory committee of the Lok Sabha, he stated.
DMK leader T R Balu corroborated this, asserting that they left the business advisory committee meeting due to the government’s desire for their endorsement of starting the discussion on the no-confidence motion on August 8.
Opposition leaders have referred to Lok Sabha precedents and rules, urging that the no-confidence motion should be given priority and discussed first, setting aside all other government business. The motion was initiated by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla admitted it on July 26.
