Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid protests over Bihar voter rolls revision issue
Rajya Sabha
was adjourned for the day on Thursday shortly after reassembling for the post-lunch session as Opposition MPs raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.
The Upper House was earlier adjourned till 2PM.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Data Science
Technology
Degree
Project Management
Finance
Management
Leadership
Product Management
others
Operations Management
Public Policy
Data Science
healthcare
Digital Marketing
MBA
MCA
CXO
Data Analytics
Artificial Intelligence
Design Thinking
Others
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
10 Months
E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
IIT Madras
CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
10 Months
E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
IIT Madras
CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
IIT Madras
CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
30 Weeks
IIM Kozhikode
SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
IIT Madras
CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
When it met at 2 PM, the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025
was taken up for discussion, and AIADMK MP M Thambidurai, who could not complete his speech on the Bill on Wednesday amid protests, was asked to continue by Chair Bhubaneswar Kalita.
Opposition MPs meanwhile continued their protest, and raised slogans demanding that the SIR exercise to be stopped.
After Thambidurai, Ayodhya Rami Reddy of YSRCP started speaking on the Bill. However, the protests continued, and Opposition MPs came close to the member's seat, and raised slogans.
Live Events
Amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
36 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Nitish Kumar Will Take Oath As CM": Chirag Paswan's U-Turn On JDU Leader
New Delhi: Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday said Nitish Kumar will take oath as Bihar Chief Minister again after the assembly elections to be held later this year. Mr Paswan's remarks came just two days after he expressed "regret" over having to support the Nitish Kumar government, which he alleged has "surrendered" before criminals. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the Union food processing minister also accused the Opposition of targeting the Army to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor. Chirag Paswan, the MP from Hajipur in Bihar, said the NDA is a "winning combination" for the elections and reiterated his commitment towards Prime Minister Modi. "Several times I have reiterated that my commitment and love is towards the Prime Minister. Under PM Modi's leadership, the elections (in Bihar) will be fought. After the election results, Nitish Kumar will again take oath as chief minister. Definitely he will be the chief minister," he said. On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Mr Paswan said this process has happened four times earlier with no difference, except that digital technology has been linked now. "Earlier, one used to go for physical documentation and now online you can submit," he said. The Union food processing minister pointed out that Aadhaar cards do not have place of birth clarity, adding that people can appeal at three levels if there are any problems. "Opposition created such noise on this issue. Have they given any proof to show if names have been removed wrongly?" he asked. "Only the one wrongly registered will be deleted. But at the same time it will be ensured that no one is meted out with injustice. We also need to ensure intruders do not take advantage of our voters," Mr Paswan said. He noted that after every election, it was the Opposition that complained to the Election Commission about anomalies in voter lists. "EVMs are fine now, voter lists are an issue for them." The minister said the process will be implemented across the country eventually. "Intensive revision is necessary. Some deceased's names are on the list and it is continuing. By chance, it (SIR) is implemented in Bihar. In the coming days, it will be done in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu where elections are due, and eventually across the country." Responding to RJD MP Manoj Jha's suggestion about sending a fact-finding committee to Bihar to assess the law and order situation, Mr Paswan said, "I am a Bihari. I need not send a committee to understand the situation in my state. I know the situation and therefore expressed concern." "When I raise the issue, they see my revolt. It is not a revolt, but a concern," he added. The LJP(RV) chief said the Opposition would like the NDA to split as it cannot win on its own strength and can win only by weakening the opposite side. On Operation Sindoor, Chirag Paswan accused the Opposition of not sparing even the Army in order to target Prime Minister Modi. "Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Army not by a minister. Its success was due to the Army. I give credit to the PM as will power is necessary for giving approval for such a big decision. We kept in mind the sensitivity of the issue. To target Prime Minister Modi, they (Opposition) are putting a question mark on Operation Sindoor. What kind of thinking is this?" he said. The LJP chief said he has a problem with the Opposition having "faith in every foreigner" but not the government and politicians in India. "They believe what the prime minister of another country has said. They believe what the neighbouring country has said. But they don't want to believe what our Army and the democratically elected government are saying," he said. Mr Paswan also criticised the Opposition for demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and then creating ruckus when it was convened. "When it was convened, what did they do? They created ruckus and proceedings were adjourned twice. Is this your priority?" he asked. "Politicising every issue is not a good sign. You raise questions to seek response on the issue, but don't use the platform for political benefit," the Union minister said.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Vocal elsewhere but silent in Tripura, BJP in a bind over ally TIPRA Motha's demand for SIR
'We earnestly urge the Election Commission of India to initiate a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Tripura, accompanied by a comprehensive door-to-door verification exercise, similar to the model recently adopted in the State of Bihar. Tripura shares an 856-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh, much of which remains porous and inadequately fenced, posing serious challenges in monitoring and preventing illegal immigration,' stated Motha's written submission to the CEC. New Delhi: The ruling BJP in Tripura has been put on the back foot, with its ally Tipra Motha raising the pitch for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR)—similar to the one conducted in Bihar—in a state that houses a large population of Bengali Hindus with roots in present-day Bangladesh and shares an 856-km border with it. It added: 'The unchecked influx of undocumented immigrants has not only disrupted the socio-economic balance of the region but has also led to the dilution of electoral rolls, threatening the democratic rights of the indigenous tribal communities and undermining electoral fairness.' Tripura BJP president Rajib Bhattacharjee said the party has not yet formulated its position on the demand for an SIR in the state. 'We have not made a decision yet. We will soon have a meeting of the state BJP unit to devise our position on the issue,' said Bhattacharjee, who is also the Northeastern state's Rajya Sabha MP. He added that the state government is carrying out drives in accordance with directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to identify and deport 'illegal migrants'. At the national level the BJP is defending the SIR—an agenda aligned with its broader narrative of expelling Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who have entered India illegally. However, in Tripura, where Bengali Hindus with roots in erstwhile East Pakistan account for nearly 70 percent of the population, the party has to strike a more nuanced tone. Even in Assam, where the BJP is also in power, the state government is walking a tightrope, demanding that ECI consider the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which has already been carried out in the state, as an admissible document under the SIR. But it is in Tripura, which saw waves of Bengali Hindu families fleeing religious persecution in erstwhile East Pakistan during partition and the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, where the BJP is struggling to craft a response to the demand of its own ally for an SIR. The BJP draws its support primarily from Bengali Hindus of the state, whereas the politics of Tipra Motha is founded entirely on the demographic changes and anxieties triggered by waves of migration, which have reduced Tripura's indigenous population to an ethnic minority. The Motha has 13 legislators in the state's 60-member Assembly, while the BJP has 32—barely above the halfway mark. When contacted, Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Debbarman told ThePrint, 'Why is the BJP silent on our demand for an SIR in Tripura? They already have the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to protect the rights of Bengali Hindus, with 31 December 2014 as the cut-off date. They should just notify the CAA rules.' The flashpoint on SIR has come at a time when ties between BJP and the Motha have already come under strain in recent months over Debbarman's suggestion that his party will not hesitate to pull out of the ruling alliance if the Centre does not implement the tripartite agreement signed last year to address tribal grievances in the state. The Centre, Tripura government and Tipra Motha were parties to the agreement, which has made no headway in terms of implementation since its signing, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, on 2 March 2024. 'We are part of the government for the accord, but if it is not materialised, we will have to think about how long this arrangement can continue,' he said. Even on Sunday, the BJP alleged that Motha supporters attacked its workers who had gathered to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat at a village. Bhattacharjee said one person has been arrested in connection with the attack, which left nine BJP workers injured. 'Whoever was involved in the attack will not be spared. We will also see who stands with the perpetrators of the violence. That will be revealing in itself,' Bhattacharjee said. Debbarman, however, claimed that the clash was essentially between a group of people who were formerly with the CPI(M) and switched over to the BJP later and current Left supporters. Debbarman claimed that the ECI, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was present in the meeting, assured the Tipra Motha delegation that an SIR will be carried out across the country, including in Tripura. He said the Tripura government should form a panel like the one constituted in Meghalaya to ensure that 'illegal migrants' being evicted from Assam under the ongoing drives do not cross over and take shelter. 'We cannot allow illegal immigration anymore in Tripura or the Northeast. We don't need permission from anyone to do so. This is about the rights of our people. If needed, we will approach the Supreme Court. The mistakes allowed to happen in the 50s, 60s, 90s cannot be repeated in 2025. We will form a committee in autonomous council areas we govern to detect and send back illegal immigrants,' Debbarman said. (Edited by Malavalli Kishan Shashank) Also Read: Bihar mimics 19th-century American South. Citizenship is now weaponised to exclude voters
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Bhasha Andolan From Tagore's Bolpur: Mamata hyphenates ‘SIR-linguistic terror', slams EC-BJP ‘bid to bring NRC through backdoor'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hyphenated the issues of detention of Bangla-speaking migrants in several parts of the country with the Election Commission's plan to roll out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across the country, including in poll-bound West Bengal, and accused the BJP and the EC of trying to implement the NRC in the country 'through the backdoor'. Launching her party's Bhasha Andolan (language movement) campaign from Bolpur – the karmabhoomi of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore – the TMC supremo alleged that the BJP-led Centre, in collusion with the EC, was targeting minorities, OBCs, the poor, and Bengali-speaking voters through the Special Summary Revision, to strike off genuine names from the voter list in a 'covert' NRC-like exercise. The chief minister, who took part in a 3-km march in Bolpur, holding a portrait of Rabindranath Tagore, asserted that she would not allow the setting up of detention centres in West Bengal and dared the EC to delete names of genuine voters, saying such 'steps would attract consequences'. 'If you (EC) dare delete names from Bengal's voter list, you will witness Chhau dance, dhamsa-madol, conch shells, cymbals, and war drums. Have you heard such sounds before? We will make you hear them,' she said. Accusing the EC of acting at the behest of the BJP government at the Centre, 'They (EC) are finalising the voters' list, while sitting in Gujarat. Gujaratis are not my enemies. The BJP's agency (EC) is doing this… They have already set up detention camps in Haryana and Assam. I will not allow NRC to be implemented in Bengal as long as I am alive. I won't allow detention camps to be built here… Have our Hindu brothers forgotten how 7 lakh names were removed in Assam? We want to say: 'Jo humse takrayega, choor choor ho jaayega' (Those who will collide with us will be shattered)'. 'The EC has come up with a new rule that the old list will no longer be used. Names must be re-entered from scratch. They are asking for the birth certificates of parents, too. Ask them if they themselves have their birth certificates. Those who are part of this conspiracy, do they have their documents in place?' she said. 'We will stop this conspiracy to jeopardise our existence in the name of linguistic terror and an attempt to implement NRC through the backdoor… The EC, with due respect, are you playing the government's NRC game?' she added. The TMC supremo declared she would 'give up her life but not her language', and vowed to stand against attempts to erase Bengali 'asmita' (pride), disenfranchise the poor, or drive out migrants under the guise of electoral roll revision. 'We have no enmity with any language. I believe that unity in diversity is the foundation of our nation. But if you try to erase our language and culture, we will resist peacefully, powerfully, and politically,' she said. In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mamata said, 'When you travel to Arab nations and hug the sheikhs, do you ask whether they are Hindus or Muslims? Did you ask the Maldives President his religion before hugging him and donating Rs 5,000 crore, while depriving Bengal of its dues?' Stating that Bengali is the fifth-most spoken language in the world and the second-most spoken in Asia, Banerjee questioned the ongoing discrimination. 'Yet, Bengalis are being tortured across states. Why this hatred? If Bengal can accept and shelter 1.5 crore migrant workers from other states, why can't you accept 22 lakh Bengali migrants working elsewhere?' she asked. The Bolpur protest march was not just political; it was rich in emotion and symbolism. Banerjee wore her trademark white cotton sari and a traditional uttariya from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. Raising slogans of 'Joy Bangla' and 'Jai Hind' at the end of her speech, Banerjee urged TMC workers to spread the language movement. -With PTI Inputs from Bolpur Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
