On Wednesday, a member of the opposition Congress party presented a no-confidence motion in parliament.
Although Mr. Modi\’s government is expected to win the vote due to its clear majority supported by allies, opposition leaders hope that the motion will compel Mr. Modi to address the situation in Manipur.
The opposition has been urging Mr. Modi to speak about the ethnic clashes that erupted in the state in May between the Meitei group and the Kuki minority, resulting in the deaths of at least 130 people and the displacement of tens of thousands.
A recent video showing two women being publicly humiliated by a mob sparked international outrage and condemnation, leading Mr. Modi to break his silence on the matter and express shame over the incident, vowing that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Earlier this week, the federal home minister, Amit Shah, assured the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, that the government was willing to discuss the violence. However, the opposition has accused them of obstructing the discussion.
This marks the second time that Mr. Modi\’s government faces a no-confidence motion since assuming power in 2014. The first occurred in 2018 when a motion was brought forward concerning the special category status for Andhra Pradesh state, and it was defeated after a 12-hour debate.
To move a no-confidence motion, it must be presented in the Lok Sabha and gain support from at least 50 lawmakers. Once accepted, a date for the vote will be announced within 10 days. If the government fails to prove its majority, it will be required to resign.
On Wednesday, two motions were tabled by MPs from the Congress party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, with the first being accepted.
Speaker Om Birla stated that he would consult with leaders from all parties to determine a date for the debate and vote. Despite the odds being against the opposition, they see the motion as a means to compel Mr. Modi to address the issues raised.
According to Manoj K Jha, an opposition MP, the numbers may not be in their favor, but the goal is to have the Prime Minister speak in parliament following the no-confidence motion.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore remarked that the opposition felt \”compelled to move the no-confidence motion as it was the last weapon\” in their efforts to address the situation in Manipur.