Parliament Erupts Over Bihar Voter Row, Speaker Calls All-Party Meet

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th July: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened an all-party meeting on Friday after the lower house was adjourned mid-session due to slogans and protests by opposition MPs. Birla urged lawmakers to let parliamentary business proceed smoothly, emphasizing the importance of dialogue during Question Hour and ensuring the house functions without disruption.

Speaker Appeals for Order, Promises Discussion on Operation Sindoor

During the meeting, a proposal emerged for a 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor, slated for July 28. Speaker Birla assured that representatives from both the government and opposition would participate and encouraged any disagreements to be expressed canonically. “If there is disagreement, it should be expressed as per house norms,” he said, offering a platform to resolve the stalemate.

Opposition Disrupts: Demands on SIR in Bihar Spur Adjournments

Earlier in the day, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned due to similar turbulence. Rajya Sabha will reconvene on Monday at 11 AM, while Lok Sabha resumes at 2 PM today. The opposition has repeatedly demanded discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, claiming this is a manipulative tactic ahead of upcoming assembly elections.

Adjournment Motion Filed Over Voter Disenfranchisement

Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed an adjournment motion notice calling for an official debate on the “Mass Disenfranchisement of 52 Lakh Voters in Bihar,” decrying it as a “deliberate assault on the constitution and democracy” orchestrated by the Election Commission under government oversight.

Protests Escalate: INDIA Alliance MPs Retreat to Makar Dwar

Meanwhile, polling booth protests by INDIA alliance MPs, including senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, entered their fifth consecutive day at Parliament’s Makar Dwar. Demonstrating against the SIR exercise, they brandished banners and demanded transparency in the voter revision process.

Speaker’s Warning: “This Stalemate Is Not Good”

As disorder mounted in the Lok Sabha chamber, Speaker Birla paused the session and cautioned the opposition, stating:

“There’s a way to register a protest. If you don’t want to run the Parliament… the house is adjourned till 2:00 PM today.”

He further criticized the banners brought into the well of the house and called for restraint to resume parliamentary business.

Stakes High: Continued Disruptions Cast Shadow Over Session

The Parliament has seen frequent adjournments since the session began on July 21, highlighting rising tensions between government and opposition over electoral reforms. With the proposed Operation Sindoor debate and mounting pressure on SIR scrutiny, Friday’s session underscored the urgency for structured deliberation over political brinkmanship.