Monsoon Session: Both Houses Adjourned Amid Opposition Protests
Opposition demands debate on alleged electoral roll irregularities.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were plunged into chaos on Tuesday, with proceedings adjourned until 3 pm and 2 pm, respectively, as Opposition MPs fiercely protested the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. The uproar reflects growing concerns over alleged irregularities in the electoral process ahead of Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections.
In the Lok Sabha, proceedings resumed at noon after a brief adjournment, with Speaker Om Birla announcing a three-member panel to investigate allegations against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. However, Opposition members swiftly disrupted the session, raising slogans against the SIR exercise, which they claim is riddled with fraudulent entries, such as a reported 124-year-old voter. The protests forced Birla to adjourn the House until 3 pm.
In the Rajya Sabha, the session barely began before Opposition MPs demanded an immediate discussion on the SIR issue. Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected all 21 notices under Rule 267, which allows suspension of regular business for urgent matters, stating they were improperly drafted or related to a sub judice issue before the Supreme Court. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva urged the Chair to allow the discussion, citing procedural rules, but was interrupted.
TMC’s Derek O’Brien criticized the government for listing two major taxation bills—Income-Tax (No 2) Bill and Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill—with over 500 clauses in a supplementary agenda circulated just before the session, calling it a “mockery of parliament.” He proposed a motion on SIR in any format acceptable to the government, but Harivansh called for Zero Hour mentions and adjourned the House until 2 pm as protests persisted.
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The Opposition’s agitation stems from allegations that the SIR is being manipulated to disenfranchise voters in Bihar, with claims of fictitious entries and voter list tampering. The issue has paralyzed Parliament’s Monsoon session, which began on July 21, with repeated adjournments disrupting legislative business, except for discussions on Operation Sindoor. The ongoing standoff underscores deep political divisions and public distrust in the electoral process as Bihar gears up for its polls.
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