New Delhi | On the fourth day of the Monsoon Session, several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a protest in the Parliament complex against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list being carried out in Bihar. The protest was led by senior Congress leader and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was joined by MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, including representatives from the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and other like-minded parties.
The protest took place near the Parliament’s ‘Makar Dwar’ entrance, where opposition MPs held up a large banner that read, “SIR – An Attack on Democracy.” They also raised slogans such as “Withdraw SIR” and demanded an open discussion on the issue inside the Parliament.
The opposition has alleged that the SIR process, currently underway in Bihar, is politically motivated and designed to tamper with the integrity of the electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. They questioned the rationale behind conducting a fresh revision when the same voter list was deemed valid during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal cited the recent statement made by Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav, who also voiced concerns about the SIR process. Yadav had questioned how a voter list deemed accurate for the parliamentary polls could suddenly become unreliable for the state elections. His criticism has added weight to the opposition’s demand for accountability and transparency in the revision process.
“This is not just about one party or one election. It’s about protecting the foundation of our democracy,” Venugopal said, adding that the government must allow a full debate in Parliament on the issue.
With the Monsoon Session already witnessing friction between the government and opposition over various matters, this fresh protest around SIR is expected to further intensify the political temperature in the House. The opposition has vowed to continue raising the matter until the government offers a clear and satisfactory explanation.
