LS proceedings washed out over SIR row

Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday were completely disrupted, with no business transacted, as the Opposition intensified protests demanding a discussion on Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla with floor leaders, including those of NDA allies like TDP and JDU, failed to resolve the deadlock. Some Opposition leaders suggested the House could hold discussion on broader electoral reforms instead of the Election Commission functioning, but a compromise was not reached.

Dismissing the possibility of holding a debate on the SIR, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in the day that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has already rejected the Opposition’s demand, quoting a ruling given by his predecessor Balram Jakhar, which said that Parliament cannot discuss the functioning of a constitutional body like the Election Commission.

Meanwhile even as Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day owing to the death of sitting member and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren on Monday morning, Lok Sabha was adjourned within minutes of having convened in the morning till 2 pm, as Congress-led Opposition leaders rushed into the well of the House, armed with banners and posters.

At 2 pm, when the House reconvened, it was within minutes adjourned for the day after laying of papers, owing to Opposition’s persistent protests on the SIR issue, with TMC members also seen protesting against the displacement of Bengali migrants in the national capital, owing to demotion of their temporary settlements.

Rijiju lamented in the House that despite the Opposition agreeing to discuss the National Sports Governance Bill and National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, for which a time period of two days was kept for discussion and passing, it went back on its assurance.

Rijiju said the Government might be compelled to get Vills passed despite obstructions being created by the Opposition in Parliament, if it remains adamant on its demand for a discussion on Bihar’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

“The job of Parliament is to make laws, and passing this law is important. However I am not in favour of doing so without proper discussion. Therefore, we should not be compelled to pass the bill without debate,” Rijiju said.

“We have numbers and can get bills passed, but we have not done so till now (in the ongoing Monsoon session). We have earlier done this only out of compulsion when there is no other option. Today we did not purposely force the two bills’ passage. We will again request them tomorrow,” the minister added.

India