Govt ready to talk about electoral reforms in Parliament, but not before discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram: Rijiju

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha will take up a debate on the 150th anniversary of National Song 'Vande Mataram' on Monday and on electoral reforms on Tuesday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said. The decision was taken after an all-party meeting and a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, signalling that the logjam prevailing in both Houses over the Opposition's demand to discuss Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is likely to be broken. "During the All Party Meeting Chaired by Speaker Lok Sabha today, it has been decided to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on 150th Anniversary of National Song 'Vande Mataram' from 12 Noon on Monday 8th December and discussion on Election Reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday 9th December," Rijiju said in a post on X. Just ahead of the BAC meeting, Birla met party leaders to break the deadlock in the House over the Opposition's demand for a discussion on SIR.

"The BAC meeting discussed the debates to be held on Vande Mataram and electoral reforms, (with) opposition's SIR discussion debate clubbed under electoral reforms. On Monday, the House will take up the debate on Vande Mataram and then on Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will debate electoral reforms," Congress' chief whip K Suresh told reporters after the BAC meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the debate on 150 years of Vande Mataram. He said 10 hours each have been allotted to both the debates, adding that time could be extended if the House deems fit. The Speaker's meetings came in the wake of repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha over the issue. Earlier in the day, Rijiju met floor leaders of political parties but refused to give a timeline for the discussion on electoral reforms, contending that the Opposition cannot dictate terms to the government.

Rijiju is learnt to have ruled out a discussion on SIR, contending that it was an administrative matter of the Election Commission and the government had no role in it. However, the minister was ready for a discussion on a broader subject of electoral reforms as it fell within the government's purview. The Opposition has been insisting that the government give an assurance on the floor of the House on the discussion on the SIR exercise. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second consecutive day over Opposition protests on the SIR exercise currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories.

With vociferous Opposition protests over the SIR stalling Parliament proceedings for a second day, the government on Tuesday told both Houses that it has invited leaders from various parties for talks to end the stalemate, but stressed that no timeline be set for the discussion. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was willing to discuss any issue and had invited leaders from various parties for a dialogue, but asserted that the proceedings cannot be disrupted over one demand. One issue cannot outweigh others at a time when members of smaller parties also want to discuss matters important to them, he said amid slogan shouting by Opposition MPs demanding a debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters' list in nine states and three Union Territories. "Two to four parties are disrupting the House... In a democracy, people win and lose. They should not vent their anger like this... By doing this, you are losing the trust of the people," Rijiju said. The minister told the protesting members that they should protect the decorum of the House and that there are many members from smaller parties who should also be heard. "Disruption of the proceedings by members of a few parties is not right, and also anger of losing elections should not be shown in the House," the minister said and mentioned that even late BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee had lost elections. Taking a jibe at the Congress on its recent electoral losses, Rijiju said the party is losing the confidence of the people.

Making similar remarks in Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said he will engage with leaders from various parties and begin consultations on the issue, but stressed that they should not impose a timeline on the process. "...please don't put a timeline condition on anything. I am going to engage with leaders of various political parties, it may be formally or informally. Ultimately, it will come to you when we start the consultations," he said. "The problem begins when you start questioning the time. Everything cannot be mechanical. In a Parliamentary democracy, we have to engage in dialogue, we have to engage in discussion," Rijiju added. Both Houses have seen protests by opposition MPs demanding a debate on the SIR immediately. The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday and has been functioning amid repeated adjournments. On Tuesday so far, Lok Sabha witnessed two adjournments pre-lunch, while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned once.