Senior leaders of the Indian National Congress, along with other opposition Members of Parliament, staged a vocal protest within the Parliament complex on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The demonstration was directed against the government's initiative for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
Leaders Hold Posters and Raise Slogans
The protest saw prominent figures like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, and MP Rahul Gandhi at the forefront. The leaders were seen holding posters and placards condemning the SIR exercise. Their central visual was a large banner that carried the stark message: 'Stop SIR-Stop Vote Chori'. The gathering resonated with loud slogans against the ruling government, accusing it of attempting to manipulate the voter list through this special revision drive.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
While the protest did not delve into granular details, the Special Intensive Revision is a process undertaken by the Election Commission to intensively clean and update the electoral rolls in a focused manner. The opposition's core allegation, as highlighted by their 'vote chori' (vote theft) slogan, is that this revision could be used to wrongfully delete legitimate voters or include ineligible ones, potentially influencing electoral outcomes. The protest underscores the deep political friction surrounding electoral integrity ahead of future polls.
Implications and Political Standoff
The public demonstration by top opposition leadership inside the Parliament premises signals a significant escalation in their strategy to challenge the government on procedural matters. By taking the issue directly to the seat of democracy, they aim to draw maximum public and media attention to their concerns. This event sets the stage for further heated debates and possibly more confrontational politics in the coming parliamentary sessions, with the trust in the electoral process becoming a central battleground.
The protest on December 2, 2025, marks a clear line drawn by the opposition, led by the Congress party, against the government's policies on a matter they consider fundamental to democracy.
