Manmohan Singh led UPA won Trus Vote by 275/256

Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh led UPA won the vote of trust in the Parliament by a comfortable margin on Tuesday, 22nd July, 2008. UPA government won the vote of confidence by 275 votes in favor and 256 against. Big step towards Ind0-US Nuclear deal.

Indian Parliament has 541 seats, and from the initial figures showed 253 votes in favor of the motion, 232 against and 2 abstentions in a total vote of 487. In the final results UPA got 275 in favor and 256 against and 10 abstentions.

After a long debate Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ordered voting by electronic voting machine. Even before the final result was announced, all the members of ruling alliance went to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to greet them on the victory in the confidence motion.

UPA government was in trouble after Left parties, which provided outside support since May 2004, withdrew it on the issue of government operationalising the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal by approaching the IAEA.

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Arrested by Mumbai Police

The Mumbai police finally arrested Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party chief Raj Thackeray under different sections of IPC for promoting enmity between communities.

The police had earlier filed an FIR against the MNS chief under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of places of birth, residence etc) 153D (assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 117 (abetting the commission of any offence by the public) of the IPC.

All of these charges are cognizable and non-bailable offences.

A Mumbai police team, comprising 16 top police officers and over 200 personnel, arrived at Raj Thackeray's residence at around 1230 hrs IST on Wednesday and arrested Raj at about 1618 hrs IST even as police and paramilitary forces maintained tight security around the city in anticipation of a possible backlash by MNS workers.

One battalion of Rapid Action Force and three strike force of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) guarded the police team.