Opposition protests over electoral roll revision disrupt Indian parliament for 2nd day
New Delhi: The Indian opposition’s protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls disrupted Parliament for the second consecutive day of the Winter Session on Tuesday.
According to Kashmir Media Service, ahead of today’s proceedings, MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a demonstration outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar with a banner reading “Stop SIR, Stop Vote Chori”, accusing the government of enabling voter suppression.
Inside the Lok Sabha, proceedings were adjourned shortly after Zero Hour, during which committee reports were tabled, as Opposition MPs shouted slogans demanding a discussion on the SIR.
Both Houses were adjourned till 2 pm amid slogan-shouting and uproar, with the INDIA bloc MPs refusing to relent in their demand for an immediate discussion on the SIR exercise being carried out across 12 Indian states and Union Territories.
Amid the deadlock, the Modi government yielded to the Opposition’s demand for a debate following a meeting between Speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju. However, Rijiju urged Opposition not to insist on fixing a timeline.
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the government for refusing to discuss the SIR issue earlier. “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 said.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the government for evading accountability, stating, “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”.
