CHAPTER - 23

MOTION OF NO-CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Lok Sabha , 11th July 1979

EDITORIAL NOTE

This was perhaps the most important speech delivered by Y. B. Chavan as Leader of Congress (S) in the Lok Sabha.

Chavan was not happy in moving the Motion against the Government led by Morarji Desai. He therefore stated at the outset, that he was doing so as a national duty. It was not against any particular individual or group of individuals. He described the utterly chaotic socioeconomic condition that prevailed in the country. Minorities were gripped with fear. There was unrest in the peasantry as well as among the industrial workers. Chavan observed that “we have reached such a situation in the country, where God alone can save us.”

Summing up, he stated that the country was witnessing tragic destructions of national ethos of secularism, deterioration in the economic life, complete lack of coordination .within the Cabinet and disruptions in the political party system.

Following his moving the Motion the Janata Government resigned. A new Chapter of coalition government started in India’s political history.

Shri Yashwantrao Chavan (Satara) : Sir, I beg to move :

“That this House express its want of confidence in the Council of Ministers.”

Mr. Speaker, Sir, while moving this motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers, I must say that I am doing it as a national duty. It is not a pleasant job, but it is a national duty. We are not doing it as some sort of formality or parliamentary tactics. There is no individual dislike or hostility against any particular individual or group of individuals. It is the nation that demands the motion that I have moved in this House.

What is the situation in the country today? If you make a general survey of the situation in the country today, we find that there is a complete lack of confidence, or if can borrow the words of the President of the Janata Party, crisis of confidence, and this crisis of confidence can be seen in all walks of life. Ultimately, the Government must represent some section of people, some class of people.

Whom do they represent today?

Shri Saugata Roy : Jan Sangh, RSS.

(Interruption)