Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday morning moved the confidence motion in Lok Sabha. The motion read: "That this House expresses its confidence in the Council of Ministers".
"Since I assumed office, I did all in the interest of the nation," he said moving the motion of confidence in his Council of Ministers in the House that began a two-day debate on the issue.
The Prime Minister invoked Guru Gobind Singh and recited a verse showing his determination to go ahead without being scared of the repercussions.
"De shiva var mohe ahe shub karman te kab hoon na daroon. Na daroon jab jaye laroom nishche kar apani jeet karon. Her heman apane maan ko ujron. Jaab awat aur nidhan bhane tab he ran main at jhooj maroon. (God when I do good, when I fight I must ensure that I win I should go down fighting)," Dr Singh recited as the UPA MPs thumped their benches approvingly.
Singh expressed regret that the House has assembled for a trust vote after four years of his government at a time when the government had to tackle issues of inflation and price rise.
In a veiled dig at the Left parties which have withdrawn support to his government, Singh recalled the 'sagacity, wisdom and visionary leadership' of Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who, he said, were the architects of the coalition government.
In a brief speech moving the motion, he said, "I assure the House and the country that every single decision, every policy decision was taken in the fullest confidence that it was in the best interest of the people of the country."
Singh said he had repeatedly assured all political parties including the Left that the government would come to the Parliament before it approached the United States after clearance from the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nuclear Supplies Group.
He said he was surprised that the decision of the Left parties to withdraw support came when he was in Japan. "The moment I came back from Japan, I met the President and offered to submit myself to Parliament as soon as possible," he said.
With United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, senior leaders of the coalition and Opposition keenly listening to him, Singh expressed confidence that the people of the country would reaffirm their faith in the steps taken by his government.
Singh said that whatever steps the government has taken were in line with the legacy of the 'glorious freedom struggle and Rajiv Gandhi's vision of preparing the country for the challenges of the 21st century'.
With additional reportage from PTI
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