Rajya Sabha Disrupted Over SIR Discussion Demand by Opposition

New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI): Rajya Sabha proceedings on Wednesday were disrupted as Opposition parties, spearheaded by the Congress, demanded a discourse on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar conducted by the Election Commission.

Soon after the scheduled documents were presented at the House, the Congress and TMC members urged the Chair to clarify when the SIR discussion would be scheduled.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh moved to address the Zero Hour mentions, designed for matters of urgent public interest.

He initially ordered that comments by Opposition leaders about SIR not be recorded, and subsequently suspended the session until noon as resolute opposition MPs continued to voice their requests.

TMC's Derek O'Brien emphasized that while the Opposition was fully supporting the government's efforts to run the House, the issue of SIR requires discussion within the remaining two weeks of Parliament's monsoon session.

Congress president and Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, sought specific timing for when the SIR discussion would occur.

The Opposition alleged that the central government and the Election Commission of India might be attempting to disenfranchise numerous voters before the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for October-November.

The Deputy Chairman also indicated receiving 18 notices under Rule 267, which propose setting aside the day's business for discussions raised through these notices.

All 18 notices were dismissed by the Chair as they did not align with parliamentary procedures.

MPs including Mohd Nadimul Haque, Prakash Chik Baraik (TMC), Jebi Mather Hisham (Congress), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Congress), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Sushmita Dev (TMC), Saket Gokhale (TMC), Randeep Singh Surjewala (Congress), and Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) clamored for a dialogue regarding issues posed by SIR.

TMC members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghose, and Ritabrata Banerjee called for a discussion on reported bias against Bengali migrant workers in other states.

CPI's Sandosh Kumar P and CPM's John Brittas urged a dialogue surrounding the contentious arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh, while Ramjilal Suman (SP) sought talks on the unexpected resignation of the former Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Additionally, CPM's V Sivadasan requested discussions on racial violence targeting Indians abroad.

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