The Lok Sabha witnessed a stormy start to Friday’s proceedings as Opposition MPs erupted in protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House within minutes of convening. The session is now scheduled to resume at 2 PM.
As the ruckus unfolded, Opposition members raised slogans, demanding a debate on the SIR exercise, which they allege is an attempt to manipulate voter rolls ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Condemning the disruptions, the Speaker said, “You are not representing the public by sloganeering. People have given you the opportunity to raise their issues in the House… This is wrong behaviour. If we have to strengthen democracy, issues must be raised following parliamentary rules.”
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc MPs staged a separate protest outside Parliament at Makkar Dawar, calling for a thorough discussion in both Houses on the EC’s ongoing voter list revision in Bihar.
Their protest coincides with the Election Commission’s scheduled release of the draft electoral rolls for Bihar on Friday. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar confirmed the list would be available on the EC’s website and shared digitally and physically with all recognised political parties across the state’s 38 districts.
The INDIA bloc, comprising various opposition parties, had earlier resolved to intensify demonstrations both within and outside Parliament over what they describe as “a threat to universal adult franchise.”
Despite the disruption, the Lok Sabha was expected to take up significant legislative business, including:
- Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Bill, 2024, to be moved by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and
- Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, aimed at aligning maritime laws with international treaties, to be presented by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Proceedings are likely to resume later in the day, though further disruptions are expected as opposition protests escalate.
