NEW DELHI: The govt Tuesday relented to opposition parties’ unanimous demand for a debate in Parliament on SIR, albeit under the broader subject of election reforms, as the two sides reached an agreement to rule out the grim prospect of another session washout.The govt prevailed on the opposition to first take up a discussion on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha on Dec 8. The debate on election reforms will take place on Dec 9, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said, adding that 10 hours each have been allotted for the two debates, with the possibility of extension. Sources said PM Narendra Modi is expected to initiate the special discussion on the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, an innate component of the governing BJP’s cultural agenda.Though the debate will be held under the anodyne head of “electoral reforms”, it will focus on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, pitting opposition’s “vote chori” charge against the governing side’s “protection of infiltrators for vote bank considerations” accusation.The breakthrough was reached at a meeting of floor leaders of all parties with Speaker Om Birla after the opposition’s disruptions to push its demand led to the adjournment of LS, like it did on Monday, the first day of Parliament’s winter sessionCong slams govt ‘arrogance’, Rijiju blames oppn for logjamOpposition parties staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha after Kiren Rijiju conveyed the govt’s willingness for the discussion, but offered no timing and proposed that the Vande Mataram debate be taken up first.He said, “Vande Mataram is a matter related to our freedom struggle. Matters related to electoral reforms are also extremely important. Considering that opposition parties have united to raise one issue, the govt is ready to take up a discussion, but to have it before the discussion on Vande Mataram may not be appropriate.”Opposition MPs demanded prioritising the SIR debate as “people are dying”, with Leader of Opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge jabbing the govt by saying, “Vande Mataram comes from us not from them”. To this, RS chairman C P Radhakrishnan was quick to say, “Vande Mataram is for everyone”.As the deadlock was broken, Congress claimed a win, saying the govt’s arrogance had finally bowed to the unity of opposition parties. Its chief whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said, “One full monsoon session was washed out because of this. Two days of the winter session already wasted. Democracy is not a playground for diversion — it demands accountability.”Rijiju, however, blamed the opposition’s insistence on a debate on SIR for the logjam, insisting that the govt was always open to a discussion on a subject with wider scope. SIR is an administrative work of Election Commission, an autonomous body, that cannot be discussed in Parliament, but the legislature can always cover the agenda of election reforms, he told reporters.During its meetings with the govt as the winter session began, the opposition had proposed that a discussion can be taken up under any subject with wider dimensions that will allow it to speak on the ongoing SIR and the govt had agreed to consider its demand. The opposition is up in arms against the ongoing SIR in 12 states and UTs, including WB and TN where its constituents are in office and polls are due in the first half of 2026, alleging suicides by BLOs due to workload and irregularities aimed at deleting votes of targeted segments of population.The governing NDA’s morale has received a big boost after notching up a big win in Bihar. The Congress-RJD-Left coalition had strongly opposed SIR in its campaign before the polling was announced, with Rahul Gandhi leading a long yatra alleging a BJP-EC nexus for “vote chori”. However, it failed to draw much traction and the combine slumped to one of the worst losses a vanquished coalition has ever suffered in Bihar.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNavy Chief Confirms India’S Third Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine Soon“Both ‘Rs Must Remember Responsibility”: Bjp Slams Rahul, Renuka Over ‘Dog’ RemarksNo More Disruptions: Lok Sabha to Debate Electoral Reforms Next Week’Imran Khan’s Health Stable, But Facing Mental Torture’, Claims Sister After Jail VisitChina’s Condom Tax Shocks the World Amid Birthrate Drop as India Surges Ahead in Population RankingsPakistan Sparks Controversy With Expired Relief Claims As India Rejects Airspace Allegation StronglyCentre Signals Willingness to Discuss SIR, Asks Opposition Not to Set TimelinePakistan’s Adiala Jail To Open Gate To Imran Khan’s Sister After PTI Fury Forces Sharif, MunirRussia Confirms Su-57 Fighter Jets, S-400 Deal On Agenda Ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India VisitCapt Shubhanshu Shares What India Can Learn from ISS Successes123PhotostoriesJennifer Lawrence’s fitness philosophy: 4 lessons to take from her realistic routine8 animals whose names start with the letter “S”Guava health benefits: 7 reasons why your daily plate needs this humble fruitExclusive – Bigg Boss 19’s Ashnoor Kaur addresses allegations of hitting Tanya Mittal during the task; bond with Abhishek Bajaj; says ‘There’s a platonic love between us’5 timeless quotes by Rumi that echo the true essenceof loveNature’s smartest travellers: 5 animals with homes on their backsFrom Cinnamon Tea to Methi Shots: 8 foods and drinks with proven heart benefitsShah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth: Actors who played both hero and villain in the same film9 lesser-known Biryanis from different parts of IndiaVictoria and David Beckham: Parenting secrets from one of the strongest celebrity couples123Hot PicksParliament Winter SessionCyclone DitwahWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingNina Lin ControversyPaige BueckersShedeur SandersDrake MayeOdell Beckham JrStephen CurryJaxson DartGiannis AntetokounmpoCharlie Kirk ControversyYordan Alvarez Wife
NEW DELHI: The govt Tuesday relented to opposition parties’ unanimous demand for a debate in Parliament on SIR, albeit under the broader subject of election reforms, as the two sides reached an agreement to rule out the grim prospect of another session washout.The govt prevailed on the opposition to first take up a discussion on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha on Dec 8. The debate on election reforms will take place on Dec 9, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said, adding that 10 hours each have been allotted for the two debates, with the possibility of extension. Sources said PM Narendra Modi is expected to initiate the special discussion on the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, an innate component of the governing BJP’s cultural agenda.Though the debate will be held under the anodyne head of “electoral reforms”, it will focus on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, pitting opposition’s “vote chori” charge against the governing side’s “protection of infiltrators for vote bank considerations” accusation.The breakthrough was reached at a meeting of floor leaders of all parties with Speaker Om Birla after the opposition’s disruptions to push its demand led to the adjournment of LS, like it did on Monday, the first day of Parliament’s winter sessionCong slams govt ‘arrogance’, Rijiju blames oppn for logjamOpposition parties staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha after Kiren Rijiju conveyed the govt’s willingness for the discussion, but offered no timing and proposed that the Vande Mataram debate be taken up first.He said, “Vande Mataram is a matter related to our freedom struggle. Matters related to electoral reforms are also extremely important. Considering that opposition parties have united to raise one issue, the govt is ready to take up a discussion, but to have it before the discussion on Vande Mataram may not be appropriate.”Opposition MPs demanded prioritising the SIR debate as “people are dying”, with Leader of Opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge jabbing the govt by saying, “Vande Mataram comes from us not from them”. To this, RS chairman C P Radhakrishnan was quick to say, “Vande Mataram is for everyone”.As the deadlock was broken, Congress claimed a win, saying the govt’s arrogance had finally bowed to the unity of opposition parties. Its chief whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said, “One full monsoon session was washed out because of this. Two days of the winter session already wasted. Democracy is not a playground for diversion — it demands accountability.”Rijiju, however, blamed the opposition’s insistence on a debate on SIR for the logjam, insisting that the govt was always open to a discussion on a subject with wider scope. SIR is an administrative work of Election Commission, an autonomous body, that cannot be discussed in Parliament, but the legislature can always cover the agenda of election reforms, he told reporters.During its meetings with the govt as the winter session began, the opposition had proposed that a discussion can be taken up under any subject with wider dimensions that will allow it to speak on the ongoing SIR and the govt had agreed to consider its demand. The opposition is up in arms against the ongoing SIR in 12 states and UTs, including WB and TN where its constituents are in office and polls are due in the first half of 2026, alleging suicides by BLOs due to workload and irregularities aimed at deleting votes of targeted segments of population.The governing NDA’s morale has received a big boost after notching up a big win in Bihar. The Congress-RJD-Left coalition had strongly opposed SIR in its campaign before the polling was announced, with Rahul Gandhi leading a long yatra alleging a BJP-EC nexus for “vote chori”. However, it failed to draw much traction and the combine slumped to one of the worst losses a vanquished coalition has ever suffered in Bihar.
