The winter session of Parliament opened on Monday in New Delhi with the anticipated uproar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, setting the stage for a contentious debate that is expected to dominate proceedings in the coming days. The session, scheduled to conclude on December 19, began with sharp exchanges between the government and the opposition on the issue.
PM Modi's Call for 'Delivery, Not Drama'
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media and urged lawmakers to concentrate on substantive matters. "I would request everyone to think about the matters at hand. There is plenty of space for drama elsewhere; whoever wants to do it can. Yahaan drama nahi, delivery honi chahiye (There should be delivery here, not drama)," he stated. In remarks perceived as a swipe at the opposition, he added that those wishing to raise slogans could do so outside Parliament, but inside, the focus must be on policy.
Government's Stance on the SIR Debate
Key ministers from the ruling NDA coalition presented the government's position. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision was under consideration and not rejected. "The govt is not averse to take up discussion on anything, including SIR, electoral reforms; give some time to respond," he said, asking the opposition not to impose a timeline.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan expressed concern that stalling the session over a single issue affects first-time MPs eager to raise constituency matters. JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha pointed out that the previous session was also washed out over SIR, noting that no political party had filed formal complaints with the Election Commission during the revision process in Bihar. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal accused the opposition of wanting to stall proceedings rather than engage in a genuine discussion.
Opposition's Firm Demand for Discussion
The opposition parties were united in their demand for a parliamentary debate on the SIR process. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra emphasized that discussing issues like SIR and pollution was the Parliament's duty, not drama. "Speaking about and raising issues is not drama. Drama is not allowing democratic discussions," she asserted.
TMC MPs Saugata Roy and Abhishek Banerjee stated the opposition would consistently raise key issues, including SIR and the Delhi terrorist attack. Banerjee highlighted accountability concerns, mentioning 40 deaths, including those of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the urgency of the SIR in Uttar Pradesh, alleging it was aimed at "cutting votes" rather than strengthening democracy. DMK's Kanimozhi reiterated the opposition's request for a discussion to protect the electoral process.
The Road Ahead for the Winter Session
The opening day has firmly positioned the debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as the central flashpoint of the winter session. With the government asking for time and the opposition insisting on an immediate discussion, the proceedings in the coming days will test whether the House can move beyond the stalemate. The Prime Minister's appeal for 'delivery over drama' sets the benchmark, but the deep political divisions over the SIR issue suggest a challenging path ahead for legislative business.
