Opposition Livid as Vande Mataram Gets Priority Over SIR Says Rijiju
Opposition walks out as govt insists national song discussion first.
Chaos gripped the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as the government firmly rejected opposition demands to prioritise an urgent debate on the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, insisting instead that a pre-scheduled discussion marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram must take precedence.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the House that the Business Advisory Committee had already finalised the agenda, placing the commemoration of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s iconic national song—adopted during India’s freedom struggle—ahead of any discussion on electoral reforms. “The government is ready for a discussion on further electoral reforms, but conditioning it to supersede a matter already approved by the BAC is not appropriate,” Rijiju asserted.
Opposition leaders from over 14 parties erupted in protest, accusing the treasury benches of deliberately shielding the Election Commission’s ongoing SIR exercise, which they claim has led to mass deletion of legitimate voters, particularly from marginalised communities. TMC floor leader Derek O’Brien dramatically stated that “people are dying because of SIR,” intensifying the charged atmosphere inside the House.
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Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge led the charge under Rule 267, demanding suspension of all listed business to immediately debate the alleged voter disenfranchisement. Supported by DMK’s Tiruchi Siva and CPM’s John Brittas, Kharge accused the Chair of summarily rejecting their notices without due process, prompting uproar and repeated adjournments.
Frustrated by the government’s intransigence, opposition members staged a walkout, vowing to continue their agitation both inside and outside Parliament until the SIR controversy—widely criticised as a systematic attempt to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of crucial state elections—is debated and addressed without further delay.
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