Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is set to undergo a no-confidence vote in parliament following a stalemate with the opposition over violence in Manipur state.
On Wednesday, a lawmaker from the opposition Congress party introduced the no-confidence motion. Despite the motion, Modi's government is unlikely to lose the vote as his party and its allies hold a clear majority in parliament.
The purpose of the motion, according to opposition leaders, is to pressure Modi into addressing the situation in Manipur, specifically the ethnic clashes between the Meitei group and the Kuki minority that erupted in May. The violence has resulted in over 130 deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
Last week, a distressing video emerged showing two women being paraded naked by a mob, drawing global outrage and condemnation. The incident forced PM Modi to break his silence and acknowledge that it had "shamed India," vowing to hold the attackers accountable.
The Central home minister, Amit Shah, stated earlier in the week that the government was willing to discuss the violence, but he accused the opposition of obstructing such discussions.
This marks the second time Modi's government has faced a no-confidence motion since coming to power in 2014. The previous instance was in 2018, related to the issue of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh state, which was defeated after a lengthy debate.
A no-confidence motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and requires support from at least 50 lawmakers to be accepted. Once accepted, the speaker will schedule a vote within 10 days. Should the government fail to prove its majority, it will be compelled to resign.
On Wednesday, two motions were moved by MPs from the Congress party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, with the first being accepted. Speaker Om Birla has pledged to consult with party leaders and announce a date for the debate and vote.
The opposition acknowledges that they lack the numbers to win the no-confidence vote, but their aim is to compel Mr. Modi to address the issues raised by the motion, particularly the situation in Manipur.
As the no-confidence motion unfolds, some recall Prime Minister Modi's remarks in Lok Sabha in 2019, where he jokingly challenged the opposition to prepare for another no-confidence motion in 2023. However, given the current political landscape and the NDA's strong majority, it remains to be seen how this motion will play out.
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