The Union government is poised to meet the Opposition’s demand for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, following protests that disrupted Parliament for the second consecutive day during the Winter Session on Tuesday.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned until 2 PM amidst uproar and slogan-shouting, as MPs from the INDIA bloc insisted on an immediate discussion regarding the SIR exercise occurring across 12 states and Union Territories.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the government is open to discussing the SIR issue and electoral reforms but urged the Opposition not to insist on a specific timeline for the debate.
Prior to the proceedings, INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar, holding a banner that read “Stop SIR, Stop Vote Chori,” accusing the government of facilitating voter suppression.
Inside the Lok Sabha, proceedings were adjourned shortly after Zero Hour, during which various committee reports were presented, as opposition MPs raised slogans demanding a discussion on the SIR topic.
Rijiju called for decorum among MPs and urged that members from all parties be allowed to express their views while also criticizing the Congress party for its recent electoral losses, claiming it is “losing the confidence of the people.”
In the Lok Sabha, the government is scheduled to present the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman intends to amend the Central Excise Act to increase duties and cesses on tobacco products.
Amid the ongoing deadlock, the government agreed to the Opposition’s call for debate after a meeting between Speaker Om Birla and Rijiju.
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s earlier refusal to discuss the SIR matter. “The Opposition is raising this issue, and we want a serious discussion. The Chairman did not allow it, and the government was not ready. This is harmful for democracy,” he stated.
Additionally, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of evading accountability, emphasizing the need for discussion on pressing issues like pollution and the SIR.
“We are demanding a discussion on pollution, SIR, and other essential issues, but the government is not willing. People’s votes are being cut; ‘vote theft’ is happening, and they want us to remain silent. The House is the temple of democracy; debate should occur here,” she said.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) and MP K. C. Venugopal criticized the Centre for directing that the Sanchar Saathi app be pre-installed on mobile phones, claiming it violates citizens’ privacy and effectively undermines constitutional protections.
Congress Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, accused the government of “betraying parliamentary traditions.” “We were told that by 9 AM today, details of the meeting would be communicated, but the government has remained silent. BLOs have died by suicide; does the government want a repeat of what happened with farmers?” he stated.
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