PM Modi Accuses Opposition of Evading Manipur Discussion

New Delhi: Launching a fresh salvo at the Opposition bloc, which had moved a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA government in the just concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the bloc of "not being serious" about the Manipur discussion as "it would have hurt them the most" and accused them of "running away" from the Lok Sabha during the debate on the no-confidence motion. The PM also slammed the Opposition bloc for spreading negativity.

Virtually addressing the panchayati raj parishad of the party’s east zone in West Bengal, the PM also criticised the state’s ruling TMC for using "terror and threats" and unleashing a "bloody game" during the recently held rural elections in the state.

"Only two days back, we defeated the Opposition's no-confidence motion in Parliament. We also defeated the negativity being spread by them. The whole country has seen the Opposition running away from the House. Unfortunately, they betrayed the people of Manipur," said the PM.

The no-confidence motion against the Modi government was defeated through a voice vote on Thursday after the Opposition MPs staged a walkout.

Mr Modi also said that before the commencement of the Monsoon Session, the government had written a letter to the Opposition parties, saying that the Centre wanted to discuss the Manipur issue.

"But what happened? You all have seen it. The Opposition didn't allow it to happen. Had there been a discussion on such a sensitive subject, the people of Manipur would have felt relieved. Some solutions to address that issue would have emerged… But the Opposition parties did not want to discuss it as they knew that the truth of Manipur will sting them the most," Mr Modi said at the two-day-long event that began today.

Alleging that the Opposition parties "were not serious" about any discussion and they "just wanted to do politics" over the Manipur issue, Mr Modi said, "They don't care about the pain and suffering of people. All they care about is politics. That was why they chose to avoid the discussion and prioritised political debates by moving the no-confidence motion."

Claiming that the Central government defeated the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition parties in Parliament with the blessings of 140-crore Indians, the Prime Minister also urged the BJP workers to unmask them before the people of the country.

Alleging that the "ruling TMC let loose a reign of terror" in West Bengal during the rural polls, the Prime Minister said people in the state have blessed the BJP candidates despite threats.

"Recently, panchayat elections were held in Bengal. The entire nation saw how the TMC unleashed a bloody game. Violence has been used as a means to threaten the Opposition. The 'tolabaz' army of the TMC looted votes. This is TMC's politics. But despite this, the love of the people of Bengal has led to the victory of the BJP candidates," he said.

The Prime Minister also claimed that "those who act as champions of democracy and question EVMs" at every opportunity had "undermined" the democratic process in Bengal.