After logjam in first week, Parliament to discuss Pahalgam, Sindoor from Monday
The breakthrough came in a meeting of Speaker Om Birla with senior leaders of various parties, where it was decided that the LS would discuss the April 22 terror attack and Operation Sindoor, beginning Monday for 16 hours, and the RS would discuss the same beginning Tuesday, again for 16 hours, said Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Criticising the Opposition for 'disrupting' Parliament proceedings through the week, Rijiju told reporters, 'All issues cannot be discussed together… The Opposition has raised several issues, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and others. We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues will be discussed after that… Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29)…'
Asked if PM Narendra Modi will speak in Parliament during the discussion, another key demand of the Opposition, Rijiju said the government cannot decide the speakers of Opposition parties, and vice versa.
He expressed hope that the 'Opposition will allow Parliament to function from next week' and lamented the waste of resources and efforts gone into preparing answers for questions to be asked by MPs during Question Hours, which did not take place in first week amid Opposition protests.
The Congress, meanwhile, accused the government of hiding behind technical reasons and not clarifying whether there will be a discussion on the SIR or not. 'We didn't raise the Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor issue in the House as we had demanded that PM Narendra Modi should be in the House during that, but he is abroad and it's not possible,' Congress's deputy leader in the LS Gaurav Gogoi said after the meeting with the Speaker.
'We were demanding that the Bihar SIR be discussed in the House, but the government is not clarifying whether this issue will be discussed in the House or not. They are hiding behind technical reasons,' he said.
Though the Opposition has been demanding that PM Modi be present in the House during the discussion, there is no final word on whether he would reply to the debate. A BJP leader said the list of BJP speakers for the special discussion in both Houses was being prepared, adding that top ministers were expected to participate.
Friday again saw no significant legislative business in both Houses, much like the four days preceding it. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair when the LS met post-lunch at 2 pm, rebuked the protesting Opposition MPs. 'Nobody is benefiting from this ruckus. People have sent you to raise their issues and you are disrupting the House,' he said.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the 'Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024' is a very important proposal concerning STs and should be taken up for discussion.
'It is a very important Bill. Are they (Opposition) against the STs?' Meghwal said. As the Opposition MPs continued their protest, Pal adjourned the House till Monday.
In the first half, Speaker Om Birla began the House proceedings with a mention of the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26 (Saturday).
'In the Kargil war (1999), our Army faced geographical and climatic challenges and showed its valour… Today, we pay homage to the soldiers who sacrificed everything for the nation,' Birla said, following which the House observed brief silence.
When the Opposition began its protest again, the Speaker told them: 'Come to meet me if you want a discussion. In consultation with the government, I will find a way out to discuss issues. This is not the proper way in the largest democracy of the world… Planned obstruction is not good for democracy. In Question Hour, we should uphold the healthy tradition of the House.' As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm.
The Rajya Sabha too saw Opposition uproar over SIR in Bihar, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for the day. The Upper House witnessed the first adjournment till noon soon after it convened at 11 am.
When the House met at noon for the Question Hour, BJP MP K Laxman sought to know the details of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
When Chouhan rose to speak, the Opposition MPs raised slogans that the SIR exercise be stopped. Chouhan said he wanted to answer the question, but the Opposition protests continued.
BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, requested the protesting MPs to return to their seats. With the Opposition members unrelenting, the House was adjourned for the day.
Vikas Pathak is deputy associate editor with The Indian Express and writes on national politics. He has over 17 years of experience, and has worked earlier with The Hindustan Times and The Hindu, among other publications. He has covered the national BJP, some key central ministries and Parliament for years, and has covered the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and many state assembly polls. He has interviewed many Union ministers and Chief Ministers.
Vikas has taught as a full-time faculty member at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Symbiosis International University, Pune; Jio Institute, Navi Mumbai; and as a guest professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
Vikas has authored a book, Contesting Nationalisms: Hinduism, Secularism and Untouchability in Colonial Punjab (Primus, 2018), which has been widely reviewed by top academic journals and leading newspapers.
He did his PhD, M Phil and MA from JNU, New Delhi, was Student of the Year (2005-06) at ACJ and gold medalist from University Rajasthan College in Jaipur in graduation. He has been invited to top academic institutions like JNU, St Stephen's College, Delhi, and IIT Delhi as a guest speaker/panellist. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
16 minutes ago
- Mint
Kargil Vijay Diwas: Free legal aid for soldiers, kin in domestic dispute cases – What is Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana?
To mark the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) will launch a scheme to provide free legal aid to the families of soldiers. According to a PTI report, the 'Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana' was virtually launched on Saturday. Along with it, NALSA's executive chairman also inaugurated legal services clinics to be set up in Sainik Welfare Boards across states, said Kuldeep Sharma, Secretary and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of District Legal Services Authority. A legal services clinic at the headquarters of Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation in Hamirpur was also inaugurated virtually, Sharma said. In a landmark initiative, and for the first time in India's history, legal assistance will be proactively provided to the families of ex-servicemen and serving soldiers. Under the NALSA initiative, panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers of the legal services authority will provide free legal aid to soldiers. The initiative will help relieve soldiers from the domestic legal burdens while they serve in harsh terrains and far-flung regions. According to an NDTV report, sources said that Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the NALSA, was deeply moved by the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. He then began exploring ways in which the judiciary could contribute more directly to their well-being. The new scheme will address a long-standing issue: soldiers deployed in remote locations often lack the ability to follow through on legal cases involving family property, domestic dispute, or land matters. This is where the scheme kicks in. NALSA will intervene to ensure that such cases are properly represented in courts across the country. The support will also extend to paramilitary personnel, including those from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and others who serve in similarly isolated and high-risk conditions, the NDTV report said. On the occasion of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Saturday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, paid tribute at the National War Memorial to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil War. According to an ANI report, with Indian flags held high, the atmosphere reverberated with chants of "Vande Mataram" and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The padyatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and local residents, who walked together to honour the courage and sacrifices of the Indian Armed Forces. A cultural tribute was also part of the event, where students dressed in traditional attire took to the stage to perform. During the padyatra, students emotionally rendered the patriotic song 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon', moving many in the crowd. (With inputs from agencies)
United News of India
29 minutes ago
- United News of India
'Will Not allow any country take lead in Maldivian affairs' : Maldives President
Male/New Delhi, July 26 (UNI) Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu today asserted that it is not his Government's policy to allow any foreign country take the lead in his affairs and said that every square inch of the Indian Ocean island nation's territory will be safeguarded by Maldivians. He was addressing the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) on his country's 60th Independence Day. This is the first time in Maldives history that a Maldivian Head of State has addressed both forces at a joint ceremonial gathering. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day State visit to the Maldives, was the Guest of Honour at the celebrations. Highlighting the priority accorded by his Government to police and defence forces, President Muizzu said this focus has, at times, prompted questions regarding the rationale behind such emphasis. Referring to the vast maritime domain of the Maldives, he said that despite the country's relatively small population, it is Maldivians themselves who will bear the responsibility of defending and securing the nation's territory. He, however, acknowledged that the Maldives must rely on other nations for certain resources and technical expertise, and affirmed the Government's commitment to cooperating with international partners in this regard. The President also paid tribute to the national heroes whose sacrifices secured the nation's independence, emphasising that every Maldivian citizen should appreciate their legacy. He underscored the shared responsibility to preserve the nation's independence and security for the benefit of future generations. Reflecting on the Maldives' enduring history of independence, the President conveyed his profound gratitude to the national defence forces for their unwavering service in upholding the nation's sovereignty, particularly during the rare instances when that independence was challenged. He added that strengthening and developing the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) shall remain the Government's utmost priority. UNI RB 1412
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Grave fraud on voters': EC's citizenship verification in Bihar roll revision defies past SC judgments, says ADR
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in its reply to the Election Commission's counter in the Supreme Court, has argued that the poll body's claim of having the constitutional authority to verify voters' citizenship during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls flies in the face of past judgments. It also called the exclusion of Aadhaar and ration cards from the list of acceptable documents 'patently absurd,' noting that Aadhaar is widely accepted when applying for passports, caste certificates, and permanent residence documents. The petitioner further said the EC had failed to justify why the revision exercise must be rushed ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, describing the manner in which it is being conducted as a 'grave fraud' on the state's voters. Announced on June 24, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls has sparked controversy over both its timing and the requirement that voters enrolled after 2003 produce multiple documents to stay on the rolls, raising concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of a large number of electors and, eventually, prompting legal challenges in the SC. Acting on the Court's directions, ADR — a non-profit that works on electoral reforms — filed its rejoinder on Saturday to the Commission's counter-affidavit submitted on July 21. In that filing, the Commission had argued that under Article 326 of the Constitution it is within its rights to verify the citizenship of electors, and clarified that removal from the electoral rolls does not amount to termination of an individual's citizenship. The matter is next listed for hearing on July 28. Responding to the EC's argument that it has the authority to verify voters' citizenship, the petitioner said this contradicted previous Supreme Court rulings, including Lal Babu Hussain vs Union of India (1995), which held that the burden of proving citizenship lies with new applicants, not those already on the rolls. ADR also cited Inderjit Barua vs ECI (1985), where the Court held that being listed on the electoral roll was prima facie proof of citizenship, and the burden of disproving it rested with the objector. The rejoinder pointed to the Commission's instructions for the Bihar leg of the SIR, which require all voters added after 2003 to submit documents from a list of 11 prescribed by the EC, effectively putting the onus on post-2003 electors to prove their eligibility, including age and citizenship. '…It is submitted that the SIR process shifts the onus of citizenship proof on all existing electors in a state, whose names were registered by the ECI through a due process,' ADR submitted. It argued that the Commission had not explained why the established process under the RP Act and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 had to be replaced with fresh documentation requirements and a new enumeration form. Nor, ADR added, had the Commission furnished any data on complaints about foreign nationals or illegal migrants being included on the rolls. The poll body, in its July 21 affidavit, did not accept the apex court's suggestion to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards as valid proof for the ongoing intensive revision in Bihar, arguing that Aadhaar and ration cards can be obtained through fraudulent or falsified documentation. In its rejoinder, the NGO said that the 11 documents originally prescribed by the EC are equally susceptible to being procured using fake or false documentation. 'The fact that Aadhar card is one of the documents accepted for obtaining Permanent Residence Certificate, OBC/SC/ST Certificate and for passport – makes ECI's rejection of Aadhar (which is most widely held document) under the instant SIR order patently absurd,' it added. Calling the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) a 'grave fraud on the voters of Bihar,' ADR said reports from the ground suggest that the Commission's own June 24 guidelines are being violated Block Level Officers (BLOs). As per the order, BLOs were required to visit each home and give each elector two forms. 'Many voters have reported that their forms have been submitted online, despite never having met with any BLOs or signed any documents. Forms of even dead individuals have been reported to have been submitted,' the rejoinder alleged. ADR also flagged the lack of any clear procedure for scrutiny of the enumeration forms or verification of documents, arguing that this has handed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) 'arbitrary, unbridled and excessive discretionary powers, which can disenfranchise a huge percentage of population in Bihar.' The June 24 EC order had stated that the last intensive revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003, and that the 2003 roll would serve as 'probative evidence' of citizenship for existing electors. For electors born after July 1, 1987, the EC required proof of citizenship of at least one parent, though it allowed them to rely on the 2003 roll if their parents were on it. ADR, however, questioned this distinction, arguing that it puts electors registered after 2003 at 'a larger risk of disenfranchisement.' It also questioned why the ECI had not placed on record the order of the 2003 revision and asked the court to direct it to do so. In the case of a 2004 order for intensive revision in North East states, which is available publicly, only new electors were asked to supply documents. The 2004 exercise was conducted over six months (July 1, 2004 to January 3, 2005), while the Bihar roll is being revised within a three-month window from June 25 to September 30, it said. The petitioner added that the EC had not explained why the SIR must be completed before the Bihar Assembly elections, or why the 2025 electoral roll, which underwent revision and was published in January, cannot be used for the upcoming polls. ADR argued that updating the electoral roll is a continuous process that already accounts for migration, deaths, and other demographic changes. It cited a January 7 press release by the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer, which noted that the Special Summary Revision 2025 was conducted on the EC's directions and had resulted in the addition of 12.03 lakh names and the deletion of 4.09 lakh. ADR also referred to the EC's instruction dated August 11, 2023, directing Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states and Union Territories to delete names from the rolls in cases of shifting, demographic similar entries (DSEs), and death. In its counter, EC had said that the SIR was being held to address the concerns of political parties. To this, ADR said 'not a single political party had asked ECI for a de novo exercise such as the one prescribed in the instant SIR order. The concerns of political parties were on the issue of addition of non-existent votes and deletion of genuine votes supporting the opposition parties and on the issue of casting of votes after closure of polls.' The legal challenge to the Bihar SIR was first heard on July 10 by a two-judge vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi. While the Supreme Court declined to restrain the Election Commission from going ahead with the exercise, it suggested that the poll panel also consider accepting Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards — in addition to the list of 11 prescribed documents — for updating the rolls. The Court allowed the Commission to file a counter-affidavit by July 21 and listed the matter for a further hearing on July 28. By Friday, the Commission's deadline for collecting enumeration forms had passed. The EC said it had received forms from 7.23 crore electors, who would be included in the draft electoral roll. Around 65 lakh names would be deleted, as those electors were found to have died, shifted permanently, been enrolled in two places, or were untraceable, the poll panel said. Additional deletions may follow after the draft roll is published, as documents submitted by the 7.23 crore electors will be scrutinised before the final roll is released on September 30. Those excluded from the draft roll will have the opportunity to file claims and objections between August 1 and September 1. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
