Opposition Pushes To Make A Point, No-Trust Vote On Friday: 10 Facts

Parliament Monsoon Session: The Congress has told the government that they wanted discussion, not disruption, in parliament. But sources said it is unlikely that the two sides can agree on what they should discuss, when and how.

Parliament Monsoon Session: Opposition brought a no-confidence motion against the Government.

New Delhi: The government will face a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha on Friday - a first in the last 15 years. While the government has the numbers to sail through, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, when asked about the matter, told NDTV, "Who says we don't have the numbers". The no-confidence notice, moved by the Congress, Telugu Desam Party and Sharad Pawar's NCP, was attempted in the budget session also. But Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not allow it due to the constant disruption and the government was accused of dodging the issue. ""We want to stop the lies of the opposition and set the record straight," Union minister Ananth Kumar said today.

Here are the top 10 facts on this story:

  1. The no-trust motion does not endanger the BJP-led government. The NDA has 315 members in the house, where the majority mark stands at 268 as some seats are vacant.
  2. During the budget session, the opposition made it clear that they were pushing for the no-trust vote to prove a point ahead of next year's general elections. Today, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said the debate on the matter, which will be held from 11 am on Friday, will be "more important than the voting".
  3. Regarding that, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anant Kumar said, "We are ready to answer and face all questions that are being asked". The opposition, he said, may have no confidence on PM Modi's government, "but I want to make it absolutely clear that the people of the country has full confidence".
  4. Reaching out to the opposition minutes before the beginning of monsoon session of parliament today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured if any party, any member wants to discuss an issue, "we are ready to discuss it".
  5. More than 50 opposition lawmakers supported the notice for the No Confidence motion -- an extension of Andhra Pradesh's demand for special status that would involve extensive financial benefits for the state. Earlier this year, party chief and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu quit the NDA following tussle over the issue.  
  6. In 2003 Sonia Gandhi had moved a no-confidence motion against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. Even then, the opposition did not have the numbers but wanted to make a point.
  7. The Lok Sabha got off to a noisy start as opposition lawmakers staged a protest in the well of the house. In presence of the Prime Minister, the members started shouting slogans of   "We want justice" - a reference to the special status demanded by Andhra Pradesh.
  8. The Congress told the government yesterday that they wanted discussion, not disruption, in parliament. But sources said it is unlikely that the two sides can agree on what they should discuss, when and how.
  9. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had a long list of issues that they want parliament to discuss, including mob lynching, woman safety, "misrule" in Jammu and Kashmir, dilution of dalit atrocity law, attempts to abolish reservation in autonomous institutions and issues of farmers, unemployment and poor investments. BJP leaders have indicated that they were ready with their own list
  10. Parliament's budget session was indeed the least productive budget session in 18 years. The Lok Sabha worked for only 21 per cent of its scheduled time. The Rajya Sabha was just a shade better, at 27 per cent.

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