Centre, Opposition reach SIR truce, electoral reforms discussion next week
Amid ongoing Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across 12 states during the Winter Session of Parliament, the Narendra Modi government on Tuesday said it is not ready to discuss the purification of voter rolls.
However, government sources added that the Centre is prepared to hold a broader discussion on electoral reforms on December 9.
“No discussion is possible on SIR. If the Opposition carries on protesting, we will continue to move forward with our bills,” government sources told India Today TV.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took to X to announce that a discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram will be held in the Lok Sabha on Monday, followed by a discussion on election reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday.
Sources said that the government had proposed taking up the discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram first. The government informed Opposition leaders that since the 150th anniversary falls on November 7, this discussion should be prioritised.
On the first two days of the Parliament session, both Houses have witnessed a near washout as the Opposition continues to push for an immediate discussion on SIR and the numerous Block Level Officers who died while on duty, as reported across India.