205 Motion of Confidence ASADHA 24, 1913 (SAKA) Motion of Confidence 206 12.36 hrs. any party in the House nor the people out­ side desire elections today. As far as the MOTION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE economic situation is concerned, the coun­ COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTED try is passing through a financial crisis. The other day, on the 11th of this month, [English] Shri Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Minister of MR. SPEAKER: Now, we take up the Law, Justice and Company Affairs, said debate on the confidence Motion moved by that the expenditure in the last elections Shri P. V. Narasimharao on 12th July was Rs. 1054.22 crores. You can under­ 1991. Shri Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait may stand the exhorbitant expenditure we had continue his speech. to incur on election. And in addition to this, you can imagine how much money SHRI LAL K. ADVANI (Gandhinagar;: was spent by the parties, how much money Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to know at was spent by the candidates and their what time the Prime Minister would reply friends. Therefore, it is totally disas­ and at what time the voting is likely to take trous to have another election now. So, place. It would be advantageous to the this Government should continue parti­ entire house if a tentative schedule is fixed cularly because we have got very very for that. explosive and sensitive problems that should be solved and these problems can­ THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMEN­ not be left as they are today. TARY AFFAIRS (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD) : It depends upon the number of Now, Shri Advaniji pointed out that this speakers. As far as the Congress Party is Government had certain oddities — so concerned, we would like to field as less many seats are vacant and the constitution M.Ps. as possible, but I do not know what of the Lok Sabha is not complete, and so is the number of speakers from the Oppo­ on. No doubt seats are vacant in Parlia­ sition side. ment and this is due to the faulty electoral system. Many seats are vacant because SHRI LAL K. ADVANI: I take it that elections in some constituencies were the time will be between 4 p.m. and 5 countermanded and the cult of violence has p.m. (Interruptions). crept in the political arena. Today muscle power and money power influenced the elec­ MR. SPEAKER : It will be tentatively at tions in a big way. The electoral system has 4 O’clock. to change because the present system does not actually reflect the will of the people. SHRI LAL K. ADVANI: Between 4 So, this system needs drastic changes. But p.m. and 5 p.m. is O.K. one thing that has to be borne in mind is SHRI EBRAHIM SULAIMAN SAIT that this Government though it does not (Ponnani) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I Just start­ have a clear mandate, has at least got ed speaking on the Confidence Motion a near mandate. If any party has got moved by the Prime Minister last Friday something near a mandate, it is the Cong­ and I had just spoken for five minutes. ress Party which has got it. As far as Later on discussion on Private Members’ the main recognised Opposition Party is Resolutions started at 3.30 p.m. and there­ concerned, it is the Congress Party which fore, I had to leave my speech unfinished. has got double the mandate of the main Opposition Party. As far as the National What I said the other day when I start­ Front is concerned, the Congress Party has ed my speech was that this Government of got four times the mandate of the National Shri Narasimha Rao is a Government Front. Therefore, it is just and fair legally and constitutionally constituted be­ that the Congress Party should continue to cause the Congress (I) is the single largest govern the country in the coming years. party in the House and the President in At this juncture, we must have a stable and his wisdom had invited the Congress Party strong Government in the country1 and to form the Government. Now, the alter­ therefore, I feel that all the secular and native to this Goverment is only elections. democratic parties should cooperate with Nobody wants the election. That would the Government and should isolate fascist be disastrous for the country. Neither and communal forces; all the like-minded, 207 Motion of Confidence JULY 15, 1991 Motion of Confidence 208 secular and democratic parties should come INDIAN EXPRESSS on the 8th of this together. If they do not do so, they fail month. Now, I want to quote from the to serve the nation. President’s Address, paragraph-3 : As far as the minorities are concerned, “Places of worship must be treated I must say here today, this Geverment with due respect. We cannot allow deserves the support of the minorities. communal elements to defile their So far, we have not had any other Gov­ sanctity by using such places as in­ ernment which had come out so much struments to generate controversy sympathetically towards the minorities. 1 and discord. Government will make say this not only because of the Congress every effort to find a negotiated set­ (I) manifesto but also because of the tlement to the Ram Janma Bhoomi- declaration of the Prime Minister and Babri Masjid issue with due regard to also because of the President's Address. the sentiments of both communities We have got so many very complicated involved. In case of all other places and sensitive problems like the Babri of workship, a Bill will be introduc­ Masjid-Ram Janma Bhoomi issue. Here ed to maintain the status quo as on also, the Government has come out very 15th August, 1947, in order to fore­ clearly. (Interruptions) Let us not cry close any new controversy." over spilt milk; let us try to solve the Never before in the independent India, problem. I know full well that as far the President has declared categorically as the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid about the sentiments of the country7 in his issue is concerned there is no difference Address. It is a clear commitment not between the Congress and the CP1(M); only of the Congress Party but of the Gov­ there is no difference between the Janata ernment of this country. Dal and the Congress. So. all the parties can come together to solve the problem. Minorities desire that the Government The Congress Party has come forward must stand by this commitment and the with a very clear assurance on this Congress Party must stand by this com­ issue. (Interruptions) I quote from the mitment and to protect secularism. Congress (I ) manifesto : [Translation] “The Congress us committed to find­ AN HON. MEMBER : Who was in­ ing a negotiated settlement of this strumented for the foundation in laying issue which fully respects the senti­ ceremony ? ments of both communities involved. SHRI EBRAHIM SULAIMAN SAIT : If such a settlement cannot be reach­ We have always opposed the laying of ed, all parties must respect the order foundation stone. If Congress has and verdict of the court: The Con­ changed its stand that is their outlook but gress is for the construction of the we have always opposed it. Circumstan­ Temple without dismantling the ces change and if you want .......... Mosque/’ [English] Nobody is against the construction of We can sit together and discuss the temple. What we are against is that issue to have a negotiated settlement where the temple should not be constructed it has to be constructed. We want a demolishing the mosque. It is against peaceful settlement. We want communal the religious sentiments and against secu­ harmony. We want communalism should larism; securalism will be demolished {if be checked. We should come to an the masjid is demolished. We should understanding. This is what Janata Dal respect the sentiments of all the commu­ also wants. Other secular parties also nities; the sanctity of the masjid should want the same. Therefore, I say that be respected; secularism should be res­ the Government should be given a chance pected; the masjid should remain tltere to continue so that they must try to solve and the temple can be constructed with­ the problem amicably in a peaceful man­ out demolishing the mosque. Here also, ner so that we can protect the integrity an assurance has been given by the Prime of the country and lead the country on Minister when he gave interview to the the path of peace and progress. 209 Motion of Confidence ASADHA 24, 1913 (SAKA) Motion of Confidence 210 Therefore, I feel that it is the duty of 242 of Congress and its allies against a all thes secular parties at this juncture total combination of 267 in Opposition. when the country is facing grave crisis, I would like to know from him whether to give their support to this Government all parties whom he had taken into so that this Government can solve the prob­ account are with him as one combined lems. We want the Government to be stable opposition with the same principles and and strong and continue in order to solve same goal. Where is the need to say the problems and to see that they protect about the arithmetics on the basis which the integrity and secularism of the coun­ are against truth? There are also 36 try.' seats vacant. Does it mean the BJP will SHRI A. ASHOKARAJ (Perambatur): win in all 36 seats ? So, Mr.