New Delhi: The government on Tuesday expressed its willingness to hold a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made it clear that the Opposition cannot dictate the timing of the debate.
The assurance came amid escalating protests by Opposition MPs in the Upper House after Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan rejected their Rule 267 notices, saying they did not meet procedural requirements. Despite repeated appeals from the Chair for order, Opposition members continued slogan-shouting through Zero Hour and refused to resume their seats.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge pressed for an immediate discussion, claiming that nearly 28 people had died during the SIR process.
“People are dying. And SIR is going fast… This is an urgent matter. To save democracy… I want the discussion to take place now only. In the interest of democracy, in the interest of citizens, in the interest of the country,” Kharge said.
Leader of the House J. P. Nadda noted that Rijiju had promised a response the previous day. “Today, I am told by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that very soon a meeting is going to take place with the Opposition leaders, and accordingly, we will decide,” he said.
Rijiju said he would hold both formal and informal talks with leaders from different Opposition parties but urged them not to impose “timeline conditions”.
“In parliamentary democracy, we have to engage in dialogue, we have to engage in discussion. There are many issues in the country. You should not undermine one issue to take up another. All issues are important,” he said.
He also took a swipe at the Opposition: “You are not able to win elections, people do not trust you, and you are venting your anger in Parliament. This is not right at all.” The minister added that while the government was ready for a discussion, a preliminary meeting was essential.
“In a democracy, elections are the platform of the people. We said yesterday too that we are ready to discuss, but you should at least hold consultations. Instead, they try to fix the time, saying the government should tell now. This is not right,” he said.
Earlier, Kharge raised procedural objections, arguing that the long-standing practice of reading out the names and subjects of Rule 267 notices was not being followed.
“Just like the adjournment motion is given in the lower house, the same thing is done here too. But suddenly, the person who has given the notice — his name is not read, his subject is also not read. This is not good,” he said.
Kharge also accused the Chair of limiting attention to the treasury benches. “Earlier, they used to see one side, only Nadda. Now, sir, you are seeing only this table down and you are not seeing us,” he remarked.
Radhakrishnan replied that it was impossible to listen to everyone when the House was not in order. He noted that he had asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to respond and that the minister had sought time.
The Chair concluded that the minister had agreed to consult Opposition leaders and advised the House to proceed with the listed business until the consultations were completed.
With PTI inputs