NEW DELHI: The Winter Session’s second day on Tuesday unfolded much like the first, with the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day at 2.05 pm amid unrelenting Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union territories. The disruptions derailed Question Hour and stalled planned legislative business, deepening the political tensions already visible on Monday.
The House had reconvened for the second time just five minutes earlier when Opposition MPs surged into the Well, shouting “SIR pe charcha karo” and “Vote chor, gaddi chhod”, insisting that no business could proceed without a detailed debate on the roll revision exercise. The Chair repeatedly urged MPs to return to their seats, but the uproar continued.
SIR debate on Dec 9, says Rijiju after all-party meeting chaired by Speaker
In a post on X, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “During the All Party Meeting Chaired by Hon’ble Speaker Lok Sabha today, it has been decided to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on 150th Anniversary of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ from 12 Noon on Monday 8th Dec and discussion on Election Reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday 9th Dec.”
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am Wednesday
Following the Opposition ruckus over SIR issue, the upper house of Parliament was adjourned till 11 am on Wednesday. The Opposition MPs also staged a walkout, demanding immediate discussion on the SIR issue.
Government urges calm; Rijiju targets Opposition over “frustration”
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju attempted to speak amid slogans, telling the House that the government had “repeatedly urged for peaceful discussion during the Winter Session”.
“There are many issues in the country; we cannot ignore other issues,” Rijiju said, adding that a few parties were “disrupting the House like this” despite the Centre being “ready to discuss every issue relating to the nation.”
Referring to the Opposition’s reaction after its Bihar Assembly election defeat, he added: “There is always victory and loss in a democracy. Atal Ji also lost. But taking out the frustration of defeat here in Parliament is not right… you are losing the trust of the public.”
His remarks triggered louder sloganeering, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House again.
Chair warns MPs as proceedings collapse
Before the final adjournment, MP Dilip Saika, presiding over the Chair, made a sharp appeal to protesting MPs: “The country wants the Parliament to function… every day it cannot happen. This is very wrong.”
The attempt to take up matters under Rule 377 also failed as Opposition MPs camped in the Well and shouted “vote chor, gaddi chhod”.
The Lok Sabha saw three adjournments between 11 am and 2 pm, with barely a few minutes of actual functioning.
Opposition intensifies pushback over SIR; protests inside and outside Parliament
Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a demonstration outside Makar Dwar earlier in the day, demanding transparency in the SIR process and alleging large-scale deletions of genuine voters. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge joined the protest.
Inside the House, MPs reiterated calls for an immediate debate, claiming discrepancies in Bihar and raising concerns over the working conditions of Booth Level Officers. Several MPs said the ongoing revision exercise directly impacted the right to vote.
Sanchar Saathi mandate becomes second flashpoint
Alongside the SIR row, the Opposition also raised the government’s recent directive requiring mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on all new phones and push it via software updates to existing users.
Calling it “snooping” and “state surveillance,” Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manickam Tagore and Manoj Jha demanded that the government roll back the move. Shashi Tharoor said any compulsory installation “in a democracy is troubling,” but added he would study the matter in detail.
The BJP countered the allegations, with MP Sanjay Jaiswal calling Sanchar Saathi “a transparent app” aimed at combating cyber fraud.
Rajya Sabha also hit by protests
The disruptions were not limited to the Lower House. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge pressed for an urgent discussion on the SIR issue in the Rajya Sabha, claiming “28 people have died” during the revision exercise. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan adjourned the Upper House till 2 pm as slogans grew louder.
Legislative business squeezed again
With only 15 sittings available until December 19, the government had hoped to push key financial business on Tuesday. Committee reports and the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were listed for consideration. But repeated adjournments, both on Monday and Tuesday, have left little room for progress.
On Monday, the Manipur GST (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, was the only legislation cleared through a voice vote.
Agencies