Sonia Gandhi on no-confidence motion: 'Who says we don't have the numbers'

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday accepted a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Narendra Modi government and said that discussion and voting on it will take place on Friday.

UPA chiarperson Sonia Gandhi delivers a speech at an event. Photo: AFP (File)

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday accepted a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Narendra Modi government and said that discussion and voting on it will take place on Friday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government is prepared to face the no-confidence motion brought in by several parties. "The entire country has confidence on Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. The Congress also exuded confidence in mustering the required strength for the success of the motion. "Who said the Opposition doesn't have the numbers?" UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi told a News channel when pointed out that the Opposition lacked the numbers in the Lok Sabha. Mahajan, who took up the issue after the question hour, said she had received notices from Opposition MPs expressing lack of confidence in the Union Council of Ministers, and that she was duty-bound to put it before the House. She also said that there will be no Question Hour on that day and the House would have no other business, barring the discussion on the no-confidence motion. "The House will take up the debate (on the motion) on Friday, July 20th. The discussion will be held for the full day, followed by voting on it," Mahajan announced. The member of the TDP, which had quit the ruling NDA coalition in March protesting against the government not giving a special package to Andhra Pradesh, had moved the motion during Zero Hour which was admitted by the Speaker. "More than 50 members are supporting the motion, so the leave is granted (to bring in no-confidence motion)," Mahajan said earlier in the day, accepting the notice. With Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanding that the largest party be allowed to move the motion, Mahajan said as per NDArules, the party which raises the motion first, gets to move it. The Opposition parties brought in no-confidence motion against the government on issues like Grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh, lynchings, atrocities against women and dalits and dilution of a law meant for Scheduled Caste. (With inputs from agencies)