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 National Security at All-Party Meet Ahead of Winter Session; Government Urges Smooth Functioning of Parliament

New Delhi: Opposition parties on Sunday mounted a united demand for a detailed discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and national security, particularly in the wake of the recent Delhi blast, at an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament beginning December 1. The government, however, stopped short of giving any assurances while appealing for the smooth functioning of both Houses.

The meeting, which lasted over two hours, was attended by nearly 50 leaders from 36 political parties, reflecting the charged political atmosphere ahead of the 15-day session that will conclude on December 19. The government was represented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president and Union Minister J P Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Ministers of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and L Murugan.

SIR Dominates Talks; National Security, Labour Codes and Federalism Also Raised

While the SIR of electoral rolls remained the central issue throughout the meeting, opposition leaders also raised concerns over:

• National security, especially after the Delhi blast

• Labour codes

• Air pollution crisis

• Foreign policy direction

• Farmers’ distress and MSP issues

• Federalism, with allegations that Governors were sitting on Bills passed by Opposition-ruled states and that central funds were being withheld. Despite the barrage of demands, the government made no firm commitment to allow specific debates.

‘Parliament Must Be Allowed to Function’: Kiren Rijiju

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged all sides to show restraint. “This is the Winter Session of Parliament, and everyone should think and conduct themselves with a cool mind. Parliament should not be stalled, and it should function smoothly. The government will keep discussing with all parties to ensure smooth functioning of the House,” Rijiju said.

On whether the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on SIR would be accepted, he said the matter would be decided by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) later in the evening. “There are differences among political parties, but if we decide not to disturb the House, then productivity will rise, democracy will be strengthened, and Parliament’s respect among people will be enhanced,” he added.

Congress Calls Meeting a ‘Mere Formality’, Slams Government’s Legislative Push

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the all-party meeting as a “mere formality”, accusing the Modi government of unilateral decision-making. He pointed out that:

• The session will be only 15 days long, the shortest in parliamentary history.

• The government has listed 13 Bills for passage

• Only three Bills have undergone parliamentary committee scrutiny.

• Ten Bills, he said, are being pushed without adequate examination.

“This clearly shows the government’s intention to bulldoze legislation without proper discussion,” Ramesh alleged.

‘Government Trying to Finish Off Democracy’: Gaurav Gogoi

Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging a systematic assault on democratic institutions. “It seems the government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, is trying to finish off India’s democracy and parliamentary traditions,” he said.The Congress demanded discussions on-National security, Air pollution, Purity of voter lists, Foreign policy, Farmers’ pricing issues. Gogoi also accused the Election Commission of acting in a biased manner. “The EC before, during and after elections is not impartial. There must be a discussion on the purity of voter lists,” he said.

Rajya Sabha, SP and Left Harden Their Stance

Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari warned: “If no discussion is held on SIR, it means the government does not want Parliament to function.” Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav went a step further: “We will not allow the House to function if discussion is not held on SIR,” he said, alleging that several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) died by suicide due to pressure to delete specific votes. CPI(M) MP John Brittas warned that any disruption in Parliament would be the sole responsibility of the government, adding that the Red Fort blast had exposed serious national security lapses.

TMC, DMK and BJD Demand Accountability on SIR

Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee said his party was willing to cooperate if the government reciprocated. “Forty persons have lost their lives during the SIR exercise. The objective appears to be deletion of votes,” Banerjee alleged. He also accused the Prime Minister of using the term ‘ghuspaithiya’ during the Bihar campaign and said the SIR process had contradicted that narrative.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said the Opposition was unanimous: “The government has listed 14 Bills. But the common issue uniting the Opposition is SIR. CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar raised concerns over: National security after the Delhi blast,Irregularities in SIR, Air pollution. BJD MP Sasmit Patra said while all parties wanted a discussion on SIR, the BJD was also pushing for a comprehensive debate on electoral reforms.

Winter Session Expected to Be Stormy

With sharp divisions between the government and the Opposition over SIR, national security, election integrity and legislative scrutiny, the Winter Session of Parliament is set to begin on a tense and confrontational note.

Whether the government accommodates the Opposition’s key demands or pushes ahead with its dense legislative agenda will determine whether Parliament functions smoothly or remains paralysed by continuous disruptions.