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The second day of the Winter Session saw Lok Sabha adjourned amid a standoff over the Special Intensive Revision debate. Will Speaker Om Birla’s intervention resolve the logjam between the government and the Opposition?
Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 pm.
New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament entered its second day on Tuesday amid a continuing standoff over the Special Intensive Revision debate, leading to a repeated adjournment of the Lok Sabha. Opposition lawmakers staged a massive protest demanding a discussion on SIR before the House takes up other issues.
The deadlock reflects growing tensions between the government and Opposition parties. While the government proposes that the House first debate Vande Mataram, which was previously scheduled by the Business Advisory Committee, the Opposition insists that the discussion on SIR should be prioritized. The issue revolves around the voter list revision exercise, which Opposition leaders claim has resulted in 28 deaths and requires immediate parliamentary scrutiny.
To resolve the impasse, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla summoned floor leaders for discussions aimed at breaking the deadlock. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government is open to debate on any issue but maintained that the Opposition cannot dictate the order of business.
"In a parliamentary democracy, dialogue is key. All issues are important, and the government is ready to discuss them. However, the Opposition cannot fix timelines unilaterally," Rijiju said. He added that consultations between parties were necessary to maintain decorum and effectiveness in the House.
Parliament in Turmoil: Opposition protests over SIR; Demands debate on electoral reforms
The row escalated in the Rajya Sabha when Chairman C P Radhakrishnan rejected Opposition notices under Rule 267, citing procedural non-compliance. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge insisted that SIR is an urgent matter for democracy and citizens’ welfare. He stressed that the issue must be discussed immediately to safeguard electoral integrity.
The Opposition INDI alliance MPs staged a demonstration near the Makar Gate within the Parliament complex. Congress MP Manickam Tagore noted that the alliance intends to intensify protests if the government does not agree to debate SIR first.
Winter Session Begins: PM Modi tells opposition; “No drama, only delivery in Parliament”
On the opening day of the Winter Session, Monday, both Houses witnessed disruptions. Opposition MPs attempted to push for an SIR discussion while raising concerns over the government’s handling of voter list revisions. The Rajya Sabha saw Opposition members walk out after repeated interruptions. The government clarified that it supports the SIR discussion but cannot adhere to a fixed schedule determined solely by the Opposition.
Despite the disruptions, legislative work continues in parallel. The Manipur Goods and Services Tax Second Amendment Bill, 2025, was tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill, which seeks to amend the Manipur GST Act of 2017, had already been passed by the Lok Sabha earlier on Tuesday.
With the Lok Sabha repeatedly adjourned and tensions running high, the deadlock over the SIR debate highlights the challenges of managing parliamentary business amid contentious political issues. Speaker Om Birla’s intervention through floor leader meetings could play a decisive role in resuming normal functioning, while the Opposition continues to insist on prioritizing urgent electoral reforms for the sake of democracy and citizens’ rights.
