PM Modi starts speaking on No Confidence Motion, blames it on negative politics

Chandrababu Naidu's TDP has brought the no-confidence motion, demanding a special status for Andhra Pradesh. The motion is supported by the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Modi said there is a hunger for power which led to the motion. He said he is in his seat because of the blessings of the people of the nation.

He called the No Confidence Motion a forced test and not a floor test even as the House witnessed pandemonium during his speech.

"We are for the development of all," said the PM repeating his "sab ka saath, sabka vikas" slogan, pointing out that electricity reached all villages. 

He said the government want to double the income of farmers by 2022.

He said the ease of doing business was appreciated worldwide but the Opposition is not ready to accept that. He said money was given to start-ups by his government. 

He said there is a war against black money and it will continue. He said he used technology to ensure that money of the government reaches the real beneficiaries. 

Taking a dig at the Opposition, Modi said "I would pray to God that you are able to bring another no trust motion in 2024" alluding that BJP would win the general elections in 2019.

Modi elaborated his government's achievements one after another even as the Opposition shouted slogans against the PM.

Modi reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark that the PM cannot look at him with straight eyes, said he is a poor backward and does indeed have the strength to look at a "naamdar" like the Gandhi scion. Referring to past prime ministers outside Congress and other leaders who were ditched by the Congress, Modi said all those who tied to see eye to eye with Congress were dumped by the party. 

He said the Congress plunged the nation in crisis and forced elections again and again whenever someone else was in power.

Modi also took a dig at Chandrababu Naidu and said TDP made a U-turn to hide its own flaws. He said he is assuring the people of Andhra Pradesh that his government will continue to work for the people of the state. 

Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister and his government on many issues including the Rafale aircraft deal with France. 

But after Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed in Parliament on Friday that he had learnt from the French President that there was no secrecy clause in the Rafale aircraft deal, the French Embassy in New Delhi issued a statement to cite an India Today interview of their President and affirmed that the deal was sensitive and hence the details cannot be revealed.

The statement by the French Embassy put Congress in a spot and Rahul Gandhi probably lied on the issue going by the reaction of France, as it said that India is bound by the secrecy clause.

It said: "We have noted the statement of Mr Rahul Gandhi before the Indian Parliament. France and India concluded in 2008 a Security agreement, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner, that could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment of India or France."

"These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons. As the President of the French Republic indicated publicly in an interview given to India Today on 9th March 2018, « In India and in France, when a deal is very sensitive, we can’t reveal all details »," the statement by French Embassy in New Delhi read.

During the day in Parliament, countering Rahul Gandhi's allegations over the Rafale deal, Defence Minister Sitharaman has said a secrecy deal with France was signed in 2008 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly during his speech on the No Confidence Motion in Lok Sabha on Friday, Rahul Gandhi said Sitharaman lied about the facts of the Rafale deal and a secrecy clause with France under pressure of the PM.

The Congress president claimed he came to know from French President Emmanuel Macron himself that there was no secret pact between India and France. However, with the French embassy debunking it now, Rahul Gandhi has been in a spot though he said he would not back down from his claim.