Govt to push key Bills amid logjam in Parl over Oppn demand of discussion on SIR

NEW DELHI: The ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament which has seen noisy protests by a united and determined Opposition, mainly over a demand for a discussion on special intensive electoral roll revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar, appears set to witness disruptions as it meets after the weekend on Monday.

The government is looking to push ahead with the passage of a key sports bill in the Lok Sabha, amid a continuing deadlock in Parliament as the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on SIR failed to draw a positive response from the ruling alliance.

The Lower House has listed the National Sports Governance Bill, which envisages greater transparency in the functioning of sports bodies, for consideration and passage.

The Rajya Sabha has listed for passage on Monday a resolution from Home Minister Amit Shah on the extension of the President’s rule in Manipur by another six months with effect from August 13.

Both the Houses witnessed a two-day discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, with Prime Minister Narendra

Modi replying to the fiery debate in the Lok Sabha and Home Minister Amit Shah responding in the Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary proceedings have been all but a washout since the Monsoon session began on July 21 as the special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar has ignited vociferous protests from opposition parties.

The INDIA bloc, which has in previous sessions often spoken in different voices, has joined ranks over the

issue, alleging the Election Commission’s exercise is

aimed at removing voters sympathetic to its agenda and boosting the prospects of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The EC has said it will roll out the exercise nationally to “protect” the integrity of electoral rolls to ensure that only eligible voters are allowed to cast votes.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has accused the EC of “vote chori” (stealing votes) and has been fiercely critical of the poll body. The EC had in a statement on Saturday rejected Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless”, “unsubstantiated” and “misleading”.

With the government paying little heed to the demand for a discussion on SIR in Parliament, the Opposition has been unsparing in its protest in Parliament, forcing repeated adjournments.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has maintained that it is for the Chair of the two Houses to decide on the Opposition’s demand in accordance with the rules.

However, he also recently cited a ruling by Balram Jakhar, a veteran Congress leader who was the Lok Sabha Speaker between 1980 and 1989, that the House cannot debate the functioning of a constitutional body like the EC to suggest the government’s disapproval of the Opposition’s demand.

A key government functionary said that if disruptions continue to block its agenda in Parliament, then it will push for the passage of its key bills despite the din.

Rijiju had said on Friday that SIR is part of the Election Commission’s mandate. “This is not the first time the EC is doing it. Whether Parliament can discuss the EC’s administrative work or not is for the Chair to decide in accordance with rules,” he added.

He noted that a minister related to the issue in discussion generally replies to the concerns raised by members and wondered who could do so in the case of the Election Commission, a constitutionally autonomous body. What is not favoured by rules and convention cannot be discussed, he had said.

Another bill that is listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha is the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill.

Meanwhile , senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday alleged that the neutrality of the Election Commission is questionable, which is why the opposition parties want a discussion on the revision of the voter list in Parliament.

Speaking to reporters before the start of the Extended Executive Meeting of the Assam unit of the Congress in Guwahati, Gogoi, who is also the deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha, questioned the BJP-led central government’s decision not to allow a discussion on the EC even though the Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by it.

“Today, there is a question mark in the minds of the people regarding the neutrality of the EC. That is why we want a discussion in Parliament. The government is trying to hide something. What is it? Is it their manipulation in the last assembly polls and Lok Sabha election?” the Assam Congress chief asked.

Gogoi said the Opposition wants an open discussion in Parliament regarding the voter list, which is being revised in Bihar.

“The common people should know the status of their voting rights and details of polling stations. We want a discussion on this, but the government is saying they cannot discuss the matter.

“Their logic is that the Election Commission is not related to any department. This is an absurd logic because the Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the PM and government,” he added.

Gogoi also claimed that there have been instances of electors visiting a polling station during voting, coming to know that their names are missing from the list.

Speaking about Operation Sindoor, the Congress MP said, “The Union Home Minister did not even give minimum respect to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. People died because of intelligence failure of the agencies under his ministry, but they did not apologise to the people. That’s their nature.”