Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha in protest against refusal to discuss duplicate EPIC issue

The entire Opposition walked out of the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour on Monday to protest against the Chair’s refusal to adjourn the House’s listed business under Rule 267 to discuss the issue of duplicate Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC).

Opposition members, including Sushmita Dev of the Trinamool Congress and Promod Tiwari of the Congress, had given notices to discuss the issue.

The Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who began reading out the notices given by the Opposition members, abruptly left the chamber without giving his ruling. Harivans, the Deputy Chairman, who replaced Dhankhar as the presiding officer, said the notices could not be admitted as they did not conform to the guidelines laid down by the Chairman for this purpose.

Opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, protested and tried to persuade Harivans to allow discussion on the issue of duplicate EPICs.

While TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had highlighted the issue of duplicate Voter’s Cards, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged massive changes made in the electoral list of Maharashtra before the state Assembly elections.

Harivans, however, refused to allow the issue of duplicate EPICs to be taken up in the House by suspending all other businesses listed for the day.

As Harivans remained adamant on not allowing discussion on duplicate EPICs, Opposition members walked out of the House in protest.

Earlier, Leader of the House J P Nadda and Kharge welcomed Dhankhar back to the House after his brief hospitalisation for health reasons.

The Chairman said that leaders across the political spectrum had expressed concern for him while he was in the hospital. Dhankhar said he was “touched” by the outpouring of sympathy from his fellow politicians during his illness.