Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc staged a strong protest outside Makar Dwar on the second day of the Winter Session, insisting on an immediate debate on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstration began at around 10:30 a.m., ahead of parliamentary proceedings, with leaders holding placards and chanting slogans such as “Stop SIR, Stop Vote Chori”, accusing the government of mishandling the revision exercise and compromising voter rights.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior Opposition MPs led the protest within the Parliament complex.
The Opposition alleged widespread irregularities in the SIR process across several States, pointing to mass voter deletions and the strain faced by booth-level officers conducting field verification. They argued that the concerns extended beyond routine administrative errors and posed a direct challenge to democratic integrity, calling instead for a broader debate on electoral reforms.
Both Houses were adjourned until 2 p.m. after proceedings were disrupted by loud protests and continuous sloganeering, with INDIA bloc members demanding an urgent discussion on the SIR exercise being undertaken in 12 States and Union Territories.
In the Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was willing to hold a discussion on SIR and on wider electoral reforms, but urged the Opposition not to insist on dictating the timing.
On the day’s legislative agenda, the government is set to introduce the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will propose amendments to the Central Excise Act to raise excise duties and cesses on tobacco products.
The opening day of the Winter Session had already seen repeated disruptions, with the Lok Sabha adjourned several times, first until noon, then until 2 p.m., and later for the remainder of the day, as Opposition MPs refused to relent on their demand for a debate on the SIR exercise.
Inside the House, continued uproar over the same issue forced yet another adjournment on Tuesday, extending the deadlock. With the Opposition refusing to withdraw its demand, the standoff threatens to impede legislative business unless the government agrees to a dedicated debate or issues detailed clarifications on the SIR rollout.
