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Protests Continue in Parliament Complex Against SIR
New Delhi: The second day of winter session of the parliament adjourned on Tuesday as several prominent opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, staged a strong protest within the Parliament House complex against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, demanding an immediate discussion on electoral reforms.
Holding placards and posters opposing the SIR exercise, the leaders unfurled a large banner that read “Stop SIR – Stop Vote Chori”, and raised slogans accusing the government of undermining democratic processes. The protest was held near the Makar Dwar of Parliament, drawing significant attention on the opening days of the Winter Session.
Among the prominent participants were Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, DMK MPs K. Kanimozhi and T.R. Baalu, along with several other leaders from opposition parties. The protesters alleged that the accelerated revision of electoral rolls could lead to large-scale disenfranchisement of voters and demanded a transparent, time-bound debate on the issue inside Parliament.
The protest took place a day after both Houses of Parliament witnessed repeated disruptions on the first and second day of the Winter Session. The Lok Sabha was adjourned multiple times, while the Rajya Sabha saw an opposition walkout as parties pressed for a dedicated discussion on the SIR.
The government, however, maintained that it is not opposed to a debate on the issue but clarified that a specific timeline for such a discussion cannot be fixed at present, citing the packed legislative agenda of the session.
Opposition leaders have alleged that the SIR is being conducted in a hurried, opaque manner, raising fears of voter list manipulation ahead of the upcoming elections. They have warned that any attempt to disturb the sanctity of the electoral process would be met with intensified protests both inside and outside Parliament. The standoff between the government and the opposition over the SIR is expected to remain a flashpoint during the ongoing Winter Session.
