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The discussion following the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP should have been on the problems faced by Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation in 2014. Instead, the Opposition used the opportunity to prepare a ‘charge-sheet’ against the Narendra Modi government’s “failures”.
The House debated issues of farmers, unemployed youth, women, Dalits, minorities, price rise and problems faced by States on Friday.
The Opposition could also succeed in creating fissures in the ruling camp as the NDA ally Shiv Sena abstained from the voting.
BJD, TRS, AIADMK
It, however, failed to ensure the support of regional parties such as the BJD (Odisha), the AIADMK (Tamil Nadu) and the TRS (Telangana).
The BJD, reiterating its position of equidistance, walked out ahead of the debate. Taking a cue from the TDP’s Jayadev Galla, who said the issue was not just Andhra Pradesh, but also about the federal structure of the State, Congress President Rahul Gandhi unleashed an attack on the Centre. He tried to corner the Centre on issues such as corruption, unemployment, favouritism and alleged lapses on the economic front such as demonetisation and the implementation of GST.
Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy said the motion was moved by the TDP, a former ally of the BJP, and NDA constituent Shiv Sena had abstained along with former NDA partner, BJD. “This showed that the no-confidence has already taken place,” he said. “I can tell you that the BJP is going to lose the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. There will be a one-to-one fight everywhere,” he added.
No one’s happy
Samjawadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said the government had failed to keep businessmen, farmers and youth happy. “Farmers are unhappy because prices of fertilisers and seeds have increased, while the youth have no employment,” he said. He claimed that during its tenure, the SP government gave six lakh jobs to the youth.
CPI(M) Politburo member Mohammad Salim said the Centre could not fulfil any of the promises it had made during the 2014 elections. “Modi promised to bring back black money, but that has not happened. Instead, the Swiss banks have seen money from India rising by 50 per cent,” he said, and alleged that demonetisation was the biggest economic gamble by the Centre. He said the Centre had aligned with separatists in J&K for political power.
Unleashing central agencies
The NCP and the RJD also joined in the attack on the Centre. NCP MP Tariq Anwar said the Narendra Modi government had misused the Enforcement Directorate, Income-Tax department and the CBI for political purposes.
“The government failed to provide security to women of India,” he added.
Attack on an elected govt
AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said Modi had broken all its promises to the people. He said the elected government in Delhi was being micro-managed by the Centre. “This is a threat to democracy,” Mann said.
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