Latest news with #SpecialIntensiveReview
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kharge calls INDIA bloc meeting to discuss voter roll revision in House
New Delhi: Opposition's INDIA group will sharpen its focus on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls, will insist on a debate and might also make a comprehensive protest plan over the issue after Parliament finished discussing Operation Sindoor in both Houses. Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha. (ANI PHOTO) INDIA group has called a meeting of its floor leaders of 24 parties on Thursday to evolve a common strategy on the issue. Congress president and Rajya Sabha's Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the meeting. In the Rajya Sabha, both Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek O'Brien demanded a debate on SIR. O'Brien reminded deputy chairman Harivansh that there are two more weeks left in the ongoing monsoon session and a debate on SIR can be organized. Kharge sought Chair's assurance when the debate on SIR will start and reminded Harivansh that since the beginning of the session, the Opposition's efforts had been to debate SIR. Later, talking to HT, Kharge said, 'Our top issue now is SIR. We want a debate on SIR and will make a plan on how the issue can be highlighted.' Kharge also didn't rule out protests but indicated that any rally or Opposition march might not happen in the short term. Demanding a debate on SIR, Kharge also told HT, 'The EC has announced it would do SIR in other states too. Notification has been issued in some states. This is a clear plan to not allow a large section of voters to vote.' INDIA group– which has 24 parties in Parliament, had met on July 19 to strategize for the monsoon session of Parliament. During the meeting, Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and SIR were picked up by leaders as top issues. 'Now that the Operation Sindoor/ Pahalgam debate is over in Parliament, our focus will sharpen on SIR,' said an Opposition leader. O'Brien said, 'SIR is a huge issue for the Opposition.' Bihar deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, who came to Parliament for work, reacted to the Opposition's protests over SIR. 'The SIR will ensure only genuine voters will cast their votes. Otherwise, they (Opposition) wants votes to be cast in the name of those who have died. The people of Bihar are happy. Only those who come from RJD and Congress cultures are facing problems. They are in panic and they have accepted defeat. So, they are looking for an excuse.'
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Both Houses to discuss Op Sindoor next week
New Delhi After a week-long impasse, both Houses of Parliament are set to function normally next week and discuss Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack. Opposition MPs create ruckus in Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. (ANI) At a meeting of floor leaders chaired by Lok Sabha, there was, however, no agreement between the two sides on the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the Election Commission of India's controversial Special Intensive Review (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar. According to officials, the government argued that it can't reply on behalf of ECI, which is an independent, constitutional body. The Opposition and the government, however, came to an agreement to resume proceedings next week, starting with the much-anticipated debate on Operation Sindoor. It was a key demand of the Opposition and the government too, was keen to discuss it on the floor of the House. 'Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday,' parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said. During the meeting, Congress's deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned the government managers why the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was not being allowed to speak. On the opening day of the monsoon session on Monday, the Congress had alleged that Gandhi couldn't speak even as ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Rijiju, were allowed to speak. According to officials, Speaker Om Birla pointed out several Congress and Opposition leaders had rushed to the Well of House and were sloganeering when Gandhi tried to speak. 'We didn't raise the Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor issue in the House as we had demanded that PM Modi be in the House during that, but he is abroad and it's not possible. We were demanding that the Bihar SIR be discussed in the House, but the government is unclear whether this issue will be discussed in the House or not,' said Gogoi. 'They are hiding behind technical reasons. They are giving the excuse that if the electoral process is underway and is being carried out by ECI, then who will respond to the questions? I would like to inform them that the Constitution provides solutions for everything. It depends only on the intentions of the government,' he added. The 16-hour-long debate will start in Lok Sabha on Monday and in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Rijiju has already met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who will be the first Opposition speaker on the debate in the Rajya Sabha, to prepare grounds for the debate. '...Before the monsoon session began, several opposition parties, including the Congress, had requested that Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack should be discussed in Parliament. The government said we are ready to discuss it... The Opposition has been creating a ruckus in Parliament from day one and protesting inside and outside Parliament and not allowing the House to function,' Rijiju said. 'In the first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, we have been able to pass only one bill... I urge all opposition parties not to disrupt the proceedings of Parliament,' he added. Trinamool Congress's Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said opposition parties will talk among themselves over the SIR issue and suggested that 'we should also go and gherao the election commission.' 'ECI has a mandate to conduct elections as a constitutional body, but we can't allow genuine citizens who are voters to be removed. Opposition parties are together and oppose this. The SIR issue has to be discussed in Parliament. You are trying to remove people from voters' list, this is amounting to total interference and blatant cheating,' he said. The first week of the monsoon session transacted limited business as the Opposition demanded an early debate on the Operation Sindoor and the SIR even as the government wanted to wait for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return from his UK and Maldives tour. The government has told the Opposition that the PM, defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah will remain present during the debate.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Parliament in uproar over Bihar voter list, Operation Sindoor debate next week
The monsoon session of Parliament has been marked by chaos, with both Houses adjourned following continuous protests from the opposition. The primary issue is the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, which the India Bloc, led by Congress leaders, alleges is an attempt to disenfranchise the poor. Protests have occurred both inside and outside the Parliament complex. Following an all-party meeting, a consensus was reached for proceedings to resume smoothly on Monday. The government has also agreed to a 16-hour discussion next week on Operation Sindoor.
United News of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
LS, RS adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition ruckus over SIR, other issues
New Delhi, July 23 (UNI) Both Houses of Parliament were today adjourned till 2 pm after Opposition members created a ruckus over Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voters in Bihar and other issues. When the Lok Sabha reconvened at 12 noon, members of the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and other opposition parties started raising slogans 'Save our democracy', demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. Amid the uproar, Presiding Officer Sandhya Ray called for tabling of the papers in the House. She asked the protesting Opposition members to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House. She added that this is the third consecutive day the proceedings have been disrupted, which is highly inappropriate. The Opposition must be mindful of its role, she said, adding the country is watching the conduct of the Opposition. The Opposition members continued with their protest forcing the Chair to adjourn the House till 2 PM. Earlier, when the House met for the day, Opposition members created a ruckus over the same issue, preventing the question hour from taking place. Due to the uproar by the Opposition over the SIR issue, the proceedings of the House were adjourned till 12 noon. When Speaker Om Birla called for the proceedings of the House, Opposition members started raising slogans and moved near the Speaker's podium, protesting against the ongoing SIR in Bihar. Amid the commotion, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla initiated the question hour and called upon Janata Dal (United) MP Lovely Anand to ask her question. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded amid the commotion, but the uproar intensified further. The Speaker strongly objected to the display of placards and warned, 'I want to say again that I will be compelled to take decisive action against those who bring placards into the House." He further asked the agitating members to go back to their seats and allow the House to function. "You will be given ample opportunity to discuss on every issue and every topic". When the sloganeering continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon. Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition members started creating an uproar as soon as the House met. Due to the noise and commotion, nothing could be heard clearly, prompting the presiding chairman, Ghanshyam Tiwari, to adjourn the proceedings until 2 pm. Earlier, when the House met for the day, the Opposition created a ruckus demanding an immediate discussion by suspending all other business on issues such as the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and SIR. As a result, the proceedings were adjourned until 12 PM. UNI RBE PRS
United News of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
LS adjourned for second day amid continued ruckus by Opposition
New Delhi, July 22 (UNI) The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second consecutive day today without any proceedings, following persistent disruptions by Opposition parties. As soon as the House re-assembled at 2 pm, Opposition members trooped into the well of the House, holding placards and shouting slogans. Presiding officer Dilip Saikia urged the agitating members to go back to their seats and let the House function. But the sloganeering by the protesting members continued. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju while condemning the action of the Opposition said, '"It was decided in the meeting that 'Operation Sindoor' would be discussed first, and a specific time has been allotted for it. How can all issues be addressed simultaneously?" He further said that the members protesting with placards is not acceptable. 'In the Business Advisory Committee we have said that the government is ready to discuss. But they (Opposition) don't want to run the House'. 'You waste crores of tax payers' money by disrupting the House,' Rijiju slammed the Opposition. But the Opposition ruckus continued and the Chair adjourned the House till 11 AM on Wednesday. Earlier, the zero hour was disrupted, leading to the adjournment of the House until 2 pm. When the proceedings resumed at 12 noon following the first adjournment, Opposition members entered the well of the House, shouting slogans and causing an uproar. After the papers were laid on the table, presiding officer Jagdambika called for the zero hour. Opposition members raised slogan, demanding discussion on SIR (Special Intensive Review) and other issues and trooped into the well of the House. Pal informed the members that, based on their demand, the Business Advisory Committee has agreed to discuss Operation Sindoor for 16 hours. Therefore, members of all parties should remain seated and participate in the House proceedings. He said that the government is willing to discuss any issue raised by the Opposition, but they did not listen to him and continued to create ruckus. Meanwhile, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal assured the members that the government is ready to hold discussions on all issues. Jagdambika Pal also stated that instead of displaying placards and shouting slogans, members should cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House. As the uproar intensified, he adjourned the proceedings of the House until 2 pm. UNI RBE PRS
