On the second day of the Winter Session, the opposition continued to protest loudly, demanding an immediate discussion on SIR, leading to the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings until 2 PM. The Speaker appealed to members to maintain the dignity of the House.
Parliament Protests: On the second day of Parliament's Winter Session, the opposition's protest regarding the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of the electoral rolls continued. Opposition MPs chanted slogans vehemently, demanding an immediate discussion on SIR, which led to the adjournment of proceedings in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha until 2 PM.
Strong Opposition Protest
As soon as the Lok Sabha proceedings began at 11 AM on Tuesday, opposition party MPs rushed to the well of the House and started chanting slogans like ‘Vote thief, leave the throne’. The opposition argues that the SIR process could impact the electoral rolls and demands an immediate discussion on the matter in Parliament.
The situation was similar in the Rajya Sabha. Opposition parties reiterated their demand for a detailed discussion on SIR to pressure the government. Due to the slogans and protests, the Chairman had to adjourn the House proceedings until 2 PM.
Lok Sabha Speaker's Appeal
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to the opposition to maintain decorum. He stated that the entire nation is watching the House proceedings, and such behaviour affects the dignity of Parliament. The Speaker emphasized that the Question Hour is very important and requested members to allow it to proceed smoothly. He added that the kind of protest happening inside and outside the House is not in the interest of either Parliament or the country.
Proceedings Disrupted for the Second Consecutive Day
This is not the first time the session has been disrupted. Earlier on Monday, the House was repeatedly adjourned throughout the day, and legislative work lasted for less than an hour. Ministers continued to answer questions during Question Hour amidst continuous sloganeering.
Union Minister's Remarks
During Question Hour, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) referred to the government's schemes for the fisheries sector in West Bengal. He stated that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) aim to promote the fisheries sector in the country.
He also added that the equitable development of every state is essential for achieving the goal of a developed India. He expressed concern that the West Bengal government had not provided adequate support to PMMSY.
Opposition's Strategy
From the outset, the opposition has been pressuring the government over SIR. Congress, TMC, SP, DMK, and other parties contend that this process is not transparent and should be openly discussed in the House. The opposition views SIR as a “potential for anomalies in the electoral rolls” and considers it an issue linked to the democratic system.
