Lok Sabha adjourned again, opposition writes to Speaker for discussion on SIR

The Opposition's relentless protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar paralysed the functioning of the Lok Sabha yet again on Friday, with two forced adjournments, even as the floor leaders of Opposition parties wrote a letter to Speaker Om Birla demanding an urgent discussion on the SIR.

The protest forced the first adjournment till 2pm. When the House reassembled, the Opposition members resumed their sloganeering. They carried placards and walked into the well of the House. Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the proceedings, warned the members against carrying placards and asked them to return to their seats. Papers were laid on the table and matters of public importance under Rule 377 were submitted amid the din. Tenneti repeatedly appealed to the Opposition to allow the House to function. The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill 2024 was listed for consideration and passing. Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal accused the Opposition of being anti-tribals.

The House was adjourned for the day within nine minutes.


In their letter to Birla, the Opposition floor leaders said, "This (SIR in Bihar) is unprecedented. ECI has indicated that similar exercises will soon be undertaken across the country. Given the widespread apprehension about the transparency, timing, and intent of this process, the matter requires the urgent attention of the House." The signatories to the letter included the leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), TR Baalu (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Lalji Verma (SP), Kakoli Ghose Dastidar (AITC), Arvind Savant (SS-UBT), Abhay Kumar (RJD) and N K Premachandran (RSP).