In a dramatic turn of events, the United Opposition’s plan to move a no-confidence motion against the government was met with a synchronised and scathing attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leaders. The motion, spearheaded by the Congress and Trinamool Congress, and supported by various other parties under the banner of “INDIA” (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), triggered a war of words between the opposing factions.
At the weekly BJP parliamentary party meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi branded the opposition as “directionless.” The opposition’s decision to name their alliance “INDIA” did not deter the BJP leaders from launching a barrage of derisive remarks aimed at discrediting the move.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted the Prime Minister as saying, “Indian National Congress. East India Company. Indian Mujahideen. Popular Front of India – these are also INDIA. Just using the name INDIA does not mean anything.” The BJP went further, likening the alliance to a “child who failed his exam.”
BJP President JP Nadda tweeted, drawing a comparison, “There was a child who failed in all his exams. He was hated by his classmates and neighbours. So the parents thought of changing his name to change his perception. Isn’t the case similar to that of I.N.D.I.A?”
As evening descended, a wave of tweets from various ministers and key leaders, including Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Pralhad Joshi, and Kiren Rijiju, further intensified the assault on the opposition alliance. They criticized the rebranding attempt, implying that merely changing the name would not absolve the alliance of its alleged past misdeeds.
In response to Amit Shah’s tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal retorted in Hindi, “It seems that the arrow has hit the mark… It is hurting a lot…”
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, undeterred by the BJP’s attacks, confirmed the opposition’s plan to move a no-confidence motion. He declared that the parliamentary strategy for the “INDIA” parties was in place, and the tactics to execute the plan would evolve as needed.
The backdrop of the no-confidence motion plan was a massive logjam in the parliament over the situation in Manipur. While the opposition sought a discussion and a statement from the Prime Minister on the matter in both houses, the government was willing to allow only a discussion and a statement from the Union Home Minister.
The ongoing session was further disrupted by the government’s long list of bills, which hampered productive discussions. Amid this backdrop, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien accused Prime Minister Modi of making a desperate move to divert public attention from the Manipur crisis by comparing the political alliance to a terrorist group.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also joined the fray, responding to PM Modi’s remarks with determination. “Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi. We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur,” read his defiant tweet.
As the political tussle intensifies, the nation waits to witness how the opposition’s no-confidence motion plan unfolds in the coming days. The confrontation between the BJP and the united opposition alliance continues to add fuel to the already charged political atmosphere in the country.
