The winter session of Parliament commenced on a stormy note on Monday, with opposition parties from the INDIA bloc staging protests and walkouts in both Houses. The uproar was triggered by the government's refusal to immediately accept their demand for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India.
Disruptions and Adjournments Mark Day One
The proceedings in the Lok Sabha saw repeated adjournments as opposition members raised slogans, disregarding appeals for order from Speaker Om Birla. The Speaker urged members to raise issues outside the House, but the protests continued. Amid the din, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman managed to pass a bill to implement GST law amendments in Manipur. She also introduced two new bills aimed at repurposing levies on 'sin goods' like tobacco and pan masala. However, with the slogan-shouting persisting, the Lok Sabha was eventually adjourned for the day in the second half.
In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition was on its feet soon after the felicitation of the new Chairman, C P Radhakrishnan. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien stated that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had promised on Sunday to revert on their demand for a discussion on SIR under the broader agenda of 'electoral reforms'. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and CPM's John Brittas supported the demand, with Kharge citing alleged suicides by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to workload as a pressing reason for the debate.
Government Stands Firm, Opposition Stages Walkout
Minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated the government's position, stating that the opposition's demand was under consideration but that they could not dictate a timeline. "Nobody is undermining the matter taken up by opposition. It is under consideration of govt. But you cannot impose conditions like taking up the discussion today," Rijiju said. He pointed out that other parties from different states wanted discussions on other issues.
The opposition countered that Rijiju had promised to convey the government's decision by 9 PM on Sunday, a claim the minister dismissed, saying the opposition cannot set deadlines. "Timeline is not the problem. But there is a trust deficit," retorted Derek O'Brien. Following this exchange, opposition members staged a walkout in protest, after which the Chair proceeded with Special Mentions and Zero Hour.
Internal Rifts and Future Confrontation
The protest revealed signs of differing strategies within the INDIA bloc. Notably, the Trinamool Congress did not attend a meeting of the bloc held at the Congress's initiative, suggesting it may be pursuing its own course on the SIR issue. Furthermore, smaller parties from Kerala, including the CPI, CPM, RSP, and IUML, expressed reservations about a complete washout of proceedings, wanting to highlight other important issues.
Despite these internal misgivings, the opposition remains determined. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sympathized with the smaller parties but emphasized the importance of the SIR issue. The INDIA bloc has planned a protest at the Parliament entrance on Tuesday, reminiscent of the Monsoon session protests. Opposition functionaries stated they will reassess their strategy on Wednesday, holding only a slender hope that the government might relent.
The opening day has set the stage for a potentially turbulent session, with the government showing no indication of yielding to the opposition's core demand for a discussion on the Election Commission's functioning and the SIR process.
