New Delhi: Opposition parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC), staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on Monday after their demand for a discussion on the Election Commission's alleged lapses in issuing multiple duplicate voter ID cards and the impact of delimitation was disallowed.
Members from the TMC, Congress, and Left parties had submitted notices under Rule 267, which allows for the suspension of scheduled business to discuss urgent issues. However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected the notices, stating they did not conform to the chair’s rulings on such matters.
While TMC and Congress MPs pushed for a discussion on the alleged issuance of multiple duplicate voter IDs, Tamil Nadu-based parties sought to debate the possible consequences of the upcoming delimitation exercise in southern states. Opposition members raised slogans and insisted on a debate, but after Harivansh reaffirmed that their notices would not be accepted and that their statements would not be recorded, they walked out in protest.
A total of 10 MPs had submitted notices under Rule 267. Among them, TMC’s Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Mausam B. Noor, Sushmita Dev, and Congress leader Pramod Tiwari demanded a debate on the Election Commission’s alleged failure in controlling the issuance of duplicate Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Cards across states. DMK’s P. Wilson and CPM’s V. Sivadasan sought a discussion on concerns regarding the impact of delimitation on southern states.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya called for a discussion on the rise in atrocities against SCs, STs, and OBCs in West Bengal. CPI’s P. Santhosh Kumar sought to highlight the potential implications of a deal between Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Elon Musk’s Starlink for satellite broadband internet services in India.
AAP’s Sanjay Singh urged a debate on the rise in crimes and the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi, while IUML’s Haris Beeran raised concerns over the growing issue of drug addiction among youth and students in Kerala.
With PTI inputs