New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament started on Tuesday once again with a heated confrontation between the government and the opposition. Rejecting the opposition’s demand for immediate debate on Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Voters List i.e. SIR, the government clearly said that there is no abstinence from discussion. But Parliament cannot be run by fixing a timeline. Earlier, the opposition in Rajya Sabha staged a walkout calling SIR a top priority and alleged that people are losing their lives due to this process.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju simply rejected the opposition’s pressure. He said that the government wants to move forward with dialogue and consensus, but Parliament cannot be run on a mechanical timetable. The political allegations and counter-attacks and the increasing tension regarding SIR show that this issue is not just a technical process but is going to be the center of the entire session.
Opposition’s uproar and government’s displeasure
As soon as the Rajya Sabha proceedings began, Congress, Trinamool Congress and many other parties demanded an immediate discussion on SIR. Derek O’Brien of Trinamool Congress said that people are facing death due to SIR. After this many parties walked out.
Opposition opposing SIR. (Photo PTI)
The government made it clear that there will be discussion only on the already decided ‘Vande Mataram’. Rijiju said that Vande Mataram is a matter related to the freedom struggle, we cannot avoid it. Don’t set a timeline. The government’s stand was clear that there will be dialogue, but the opposition cannot impose conditions. Rijiju said, please do not put a timeline on any subject. Parliament runs through dialogue, not like a machine.
He also launched a scathing attack on the opposition saying-
You are not able to win the elections, the public does not consider you trustworthy, hence they vent their anger in the Parliament. This method is not right.
Government-Opposition meeting soon, Nadda hints
Rajya Sabha leader and Union Minister JP Nadda assured that discussions with the opposition will take place very soon. He said that the outline for parliamentary discussion on SIR will be made only after talks at the leadership level. This indicates that the conflict over SIR is not over yet, but the government wants to find a way out through negotiations.
Uproar in Lok Sabha too – entire proceedings adjourned for the day
Protests over SIR continued in the Lok Sabha too and opposition parties including Congress came in the middle of the House and raised slogans. Due to this the Speaker had to adjourn the proceedings for the whole day. SIR has become a major controversy since the second phase began on October 27, as it is affecting almost half of the voters in nine states and three union territories.
The Election Commission is conducting the SIR in a hurry. (Photo PTI)
SIR controversy: What is the opposition saying?
- The Election Commission is conducting the SIR in a hurry.
- Lack of transparency and preparation in the process.
- Trouble for voters and officials due to tight timeline.
- SIR, the action is being taken under political pressure.
- Allegations of irregularities in the revised voter list.
Rejecting these allegations, the Election Commission has extended the timeline of SIR by one week, so that complete transparency is maintained.
Is it only SIR that is the issue? 3 more demands of opposition
Apart from the SIR debate, the opposition wants discussion in the House on three more immediate issues:
- Recent explosion near Delhi Red Fort.
- Hazardous air quality in Delhi-NCR.
- Recent developments related to foreign policy.
The opposition says that running the House without discussion on these subjects is injustice to the public.
Why did SIR become the biggest conflict of the session?
Experts believe that the biggest impact of SIR may be on the election cycle after 2024. The opposition is seeing the large-scale changes in the voter list as a possible impact on the balance of power. The stance of the government and the Election Commission is that this is a routine process. But its scope and time have increased the controversy considerably.
