New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the government is willing to hold a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls or broader electoral reforms, but stressed that the Opposition must not demand a fixed deadline for the debate. He said parliamentary proceedings cannot be guided by rigid conditions and need to follow the schedule set by the Business Advisory Committee.
Rijiju clarified that the government has not dismissed the Opposition’s request and asked members not to assume resistance where none exists. He emphasised that several other matters were already lined up for discussion and needed appropriate time within the session’s framework. His remarks followed a walkout by Opposition parties a day earlier after he sought additional time to respond to calls for an immediate debate on SIR.
The Chairman had also disallowed multiple notices under Rule 267 related to the issue, sparking protests and repeated interventions from Opposition benches. The government has maintained that the SIR exercise is being carried out by the Election Commission of India, which functions independently and whose internal processes are not subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
In the Lok Sabha, proceedings were adjourned till noon for the second straight day of the Winter Session after Opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the Election Commission’s revision exercise. The House opened with Speaker Om Birla welcoming a visiting parliamentary delegation from Georgia. Once the Question Hour began, Opposition members raised slogans calling for an urgent debate on SIR.
Despite the disruption, two questions related to different ministries were taken up, and the concerned ministers provided responses before the House was adjourned amid continuing protests.
