Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi easily thwarted a no-confidence vote on Thursday, which the opposition sought as a protest against his handling of an ethnic conflict that has resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries in the state of Manipur. Modi characterized the move as a futile attempt to "damage India's reputation," adding, "They relish damaging India's reputation and have no trust in the people of India and their capabilities."
The vote, led by a new opposition alliance headed by the Congress Party, failed as expected, and opposition members withdrew from the legislative assembly in protest even before the proposal was put to a vote. Critics pointed out that Modi's failure to publicly address the ethnic conflict in the state governed by his Bharatiya Janata Party has reinforced perceptions that party interests and its base of Hindu nationalist voters take precedence in his domestic concerns.
This confrontation has heightened political tensions ahead of general elections in the world's largest democracy and one of the fastest-growing economies. The elections are scheduled for April and May 2024. Polls indicate that Modi still enjoys significant popularity and is widely expected to win a third term.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi's handling of the Manipur crisis, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party government has divided the state and broken its will. Gandhi entered Parliament about 75 minutes after Modi's speech, and the entire opposition left shortly thereafter, around 15 minutes after.
Following the opposition's withdrawal, Modi addressed the people of Manipur, stating, "The country is with you, this Parliament is with you, and we will all work together to find a solution to this challenge." Indian Home Minister attributed the ethnic conflict in Manipur to disturbances in neighboring Myanmar, urging both parties in the conflict to resolve it through dialogue.
