Parliament’s winter session faces disruption as opposition demands a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging irregularities. Despite the government’s non-committal stance, parties are united, threatening to stall proceedings if their concerns aren’t addressed. Other issues like national security and air pollution were also raised. Rajnath Singh and other NDA functionaries arrive for the floor leaders meet at Parliament House on Sunday (Photo credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: The prospect of disruption looms over an already truncated winter session of Parliament as a united opposition on Sunday pressed for a discussion on SIR, an issue that had all but washed out the previous session, as govt remained non-committal to its demand.At an all-party meeting chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, Congress and a host of other opposition parties also sought debate on several other issues, including national security following the Delhi blast, and rising air pollution, but the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls emerged as their rallying point.Ram Gopal Yadav of SP, whose contingent of 37 Lok Sabha members is the second largest in the opposition, sent out an ominous message as the 19-day session covering 15 sitting begins Monday. “We will not allow Parliament to function if a discussion is not held on SIR,” he said, alleging the review of rolls is marred by irregularities and that some booth-level officers ended their lives due to stress. Many SP lawmakers, including him, have been put on “C category” (requiring more documentation), as a targeted segment of voters is being deleted from rolls, he claimed.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told the opposition that he would get back to them on their demand after consulting key govt functionaries, but gave no assurance. Rijiju had in the last session cited a ruling by then LS Speaker Balram Jakhar in 1988, when Congress was in office, that the House could not debate decisions and functioning of Election Commission to reject opposition’s demand for a discussion on SIR.The opposition’s protest had washed out LS and Rajya Sabha proceedings, except for a discussion on Operation Sindoor, in that session.At Sunday’s meeting, BJP ally and JDU working president Sanjay Jha made light of the opposition’s case against SIR by highlighting that its strident stand cut little ice with people in Bihar, the first state where it was carried out, and no voter or political party came forward with any official complaint.In the meeting attended by 50 representatives from 36 parties, govt shared 14 items, including 13 bills, of its tentative agenda and sought the opposition’s support. Rijiju conveyed govt’s keenness on a discussion of Vande Mataram, the national song whose 150th anniversary was observed with much fervour recently by BJP-led NDA.Congress later held a strategy meet of its key leaders with sources saying the party was veering to the stand that the demand for a SIR discussion was non-negotiable.In business advisory meetings of LS and RS, in which govt and opposition functionaries work out Parliament’s agenda, the deadlock remained. Some opposition members, including CPM’s John Brittas, suggested a short-duration discussion on electoral reforms to get around govt’s unwillingness to discuss SIR as the issue can also cover the ongoing exercise in 12 states and UTs.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAjeya Warrior-25 Wraps Up As India-UK Forces Boost Counter-Terror SynergyAt Least 11 Dead, 20 Injured in Head-On Collision Between Two Govt Buses in Tamil Nadu’s SivagangaUncertainty Over Pakistan’s Top Military Post Could Trigger Conflict: AnalystPak Handler Shahzad Bhatti Directed Gurdaspur Grenade Attack: Special Cell‘Stay Mentally Prepared’: Rajnath Singh’s Remark Fuels Talk Of Another Operation Sindoor‘4,000 Soldier Deaths, 20,000 Injured’: Pak FM Ishaq Dar Blames Taliban For Troop LossesAirbus A320 Glitch: Ex-IAF Pilot Shows How ELAC 2 Fails In Real-Time Flight Simulation‘Can’t Make Someone Disappear’: Shashi Tharoor Calls Out Pakistan Over Imran Khan’s Death RumoursPolitics Increasingly ‘Trumps’ Economics: EAM Jaishankar’s Veiled Swipe At US Amid Trade Tensions4 Dead, 1 Injured As Fire Engulfs Four-Storey Building In South Delhi123PhotostoriesWeekly Horoscope TOI, 1 Dec – 7 Dec 2025Priyanka Chopra’s roles that celebrate grit identity and constant reinventionPregnant Bharti Singh stuns in a gorgeous maternity photoshoot, flaunting her baby bump; see pics7 banana breakfast dishes from around the world9 traditional Kheer variants to keep you warm this winterChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 7 common mistakes people commit while making dosa and how to rectify them5 easy and effective ways to save more time daily4 infused water remedies for everyday health issues and how to make them at homeHow this rare island reptile became the world’s biggest lizard and a powerful hunterExclusive – Diya Aur Baati Hum fame Vindhya Tiwari drops dreamy wedding photos with Ashish Lohra; says ‘Chose Nov 25 to match Lord Ram and Sita ji’s wedding day’123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayCyclone DitwahWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingGiannis AntetokounmpoBo BichetteED SheeranMLB Trade RumorsStefon diggsSouth Delhi SuicideBike Driver Account Udaipur EDAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerJammie Booker
NEW DELHI: The prospect of disruption looms over an already truncated winter session of Parliament as a united opposition on Sunday pressed for a discussion on SIR, an issue that had all but washed out the previous session, as govt remained non-committal to its demand.At an all-party meeting chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, Congress and a host of other opposition parties also sought debate on several other issues, including national security following the Delhi blast, and rising air pollution, but the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls emerged as their rallying point.Ram Gopal Yadav of SP, whose contingent of 37 Lok Sabha members is the second largest in the opposition, sent out an ominous message as the 19-day session covering 15 sitting begins Monday. “We will not allow Parliament to function if a discussion is not held on SIR,” he said, alleging the review of rolls is marred by irregularities and that some booth-level officers ended their lives due to stress. Many SP lawmakers, including him, have been put on “C category” (requiring more documentation), as a targeted segment of voters is being deleted from rolls, he claimed.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told the opposition that he would get back to them on their demand after consulting key govt functionaries, but gave no assurance. Rijiju had in the last session cited a ruling by then LS Speaker Balram Jakhar in 1988, when Congress was in office, that the House could not debate decisions and functioning of Election Commission to reject opposition’s demand for a discussion on SIR.The opposition’s protest had washed out LS and Rajya Sabha proceedings, except for a discussion on Operation Sindoor, in that session.At Sunday’s meeting, BJP ally and JDU working president Sanjay Jha made light of the opposition’s case against SIR by highlighting that its strident stand cut little ice with people in Bihar, the first state where it was carried out, and no voter or political party came forward with any official complaint.In the meeting attended by 50 representatives from 36 parties, govt shared 14 items, including 13 bills, of its tentative agenda and sought the opposition’s support. Rijiju conveyed govt’s keenness on a discussion of Vande Mataram, the national song whose 150th anniversary was observed with much fervour recently by BJP-led NDA.Congress later held a strategy meet of its key leaders with sources saying the party was veering to the stand that the demand for a SIR discussion was non-negotiable.In business advisory meetings of LS and RS, in which govt and opposition functionaries work out Parliament’s agenda, the deadlock remained. Some opposition members, including CPM’s John Brittas, suggested a short-duration discussion on electoral reforms to get around govt’s unwillingness to discuss SIR as the issue can also cover the ongoing exercise in 12 states and UTs.
