No-confidence debate: Rahul Gandhi fires salvo, accuses PM Modi of murdering India in Manipur; uproar in Lok Sabha

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks on the Motion of No-Confidence in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. PTI Photo

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a salvo at the BJP-led union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing them of murdering the idea of India in Manipur.

Gandhi's comments were met with an uproar by the BJP members aa the union minister Kiren Rjuji demanded an apology from Gandhi.

Participating in the no-confidence motion debate, Gandhi also thanked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for reinstating his membership of the House.

"The last time I spoke, I also caused you (Birla) pain. I focussed on Adani ji with such intensity, your senior leaders felt pain. That pain also affected you, for that I apologise to you," Gandhi told Birla.

"I only spoke the truth. My BJP friends you need not be afraid because my speech today will not be focussed on us. Rumi said, 'jo shabd dill se aate hain woh dil mein jaate hain'. Will not attack you much."

The Indian Army can restore peace in Manipur in one day but the government is not using its services, Gandhi said in Lok Sabha during the no-trust debate.

Launching an attack on the government, Gandhi said: "By killing people of Manipur, you are killers of Bharat Mata; you are traitors, not patriots." He said that the Prime Miinister has split Manipur into two.

Also read: "Heartless govt": Oppn members lash out at Centre over Manipur during no-trust debate in LS

The Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was restored on Monday, days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a defamation case.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification announcing that his disqualification has been revoked and his membership restored.

"In continuation of notification ... dated 24th March 2023, the Supreme Court of India has passed an order on 04.08.2023 in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8644/2023, staying the conviction of Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, which was ordered by the judgment dated 23.03.2023 of the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...

"In view of order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Shri Rahul Gandhi ... in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements," the notification read.

Following the restoration of his membership, the Congress said it would like him to be a key speaker in the debate on the no-confidence motion likely to be taken up in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 24, with effect from March 23 after a Gujarat court convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail.

A punishment of two years and above automatically disqualifies a lawmaker.

The Supreme Court on Friday last stayed his conviction, paving the way for the restoration of his Lok Sabha membership.

He represents Wayanad in the lower house.