Opposition parties staged a significant protest concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process outside Parliament's Makar Dwar. Prominent figures including Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav were present, with leaders accusing the government of undermining democratic principles and challenging its authority.
MPs Protest: Opposition parties united in protest on Monday outside the Parliament complex, voicing their concerns regarding the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Leading the demonstration were Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav.
During the protest, opposition leaders displayed placards bearing slogans such as "Attack on Democracy" and "Stop SIR." The leaders asserted that the central government was weakening democratic values and manipulating the electoral system.
Broad Party Participation Highlights Seriousness
Senior leaders, including Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi and CPI (ML) Liberation MP Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha, also participated in the protest. Their presence underscores that the concerns surrounding SIR extend beyond the Congress party, representing a shared concern within the broader INDIA alliance.
The opposition alleges that the SIR process, involving what they consider unnecessary and arbitrary revisions of the voter list, compromises fairness. They view it as governmental interference in the electoral process.
Understanding SIR and the Rationale Behind the Protest
SIR, or Special Intensive Revision, is an Election Commission process involving a detailed inspection of the voter list. However, this instance of SIR has drawn scrutiny due to opposition allegations that it contravenes the fundamental principles of the Representation of the People Act.
Accusations of bias have emerged concerning the process of adding or removing individuals' names from the voter list in certain states under the guise of SIR. The opposition contends that these actions are deliberately designed to provide an electoral advantage to the ruling party.
Government Counters with a Show of Force, Convening NDA MPs
In response to the opposition's demonstration, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sought to project its own strength. The BJP instructed MPs from all its allied parties to gather at Parliament's Makar Dwar at 10 am on Monday.
Parliamentary Discussion on Operation Sindoor Also a Key Focus
Beyond the SIR controversy, Monday's parliamentary agenda included a special discussion on India's Operation Sindoor, undertaken in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. This topic was formally included as a "Special discussion on India's b, successful and decisive 'Operation Sindoor'."
