New Delhi: Government on August 19 night sailed through with a comfortable margin of 126 votes, when the Lok Sabha rejected the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee lashed out at the Congress for bringing it without any valid reason or rhyme and dismissed the charge that his government failed on all fronts.

In a spirited and aggressive 30-minute intervention in the debate on the motion, he negated the charge that his government had jeopardised national defence, endangered internal security and mortgaged foreign policy.

Though there was no real threat to the government, the Opposition did press for a division on the motion, which was rejected by a voice vote earlier.

The motion expressing want of confidence in the government, moved by leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, was negated with 312 votes against and 186 in favour, Speaker Manohar Joshi announced at the end of a two-day debate that concluded exactly at midnight.

PTI