SIR unites Oppn, chorus grows for discussion in Parliament

From Parliament to the Vijay Chowk, the Opposition on Wednesday continued to raise its voice against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), too, extending its support over the issue. Notably, AAP had parted its ways from the INDIA bloc just a few weeks ago.

The Opposition while intensifying its pressure on the Modi government for a discussion on the SIR of voter rolls in Bihar during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, also announced a protest march to the Election Commission office in Delhi on August 11, opposing the SIR exercise.

The Monsoon session has seen a persistent logjam over the SIR being conducted in Bihar, with the Opposition alleging that the EC’s move is aimed to cut votes ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections.

At a joint press conference, Opposition parties alleged that the SIR exercise was stripping people of their voting rights, an attack on democracy and demanded a discussion on the issue in the “temple of democracy,” Parliament.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emphasised that the Opposition wants to present its suggestions on the matter, but the government was not allowing a discussion. “Taking away the voting rights of poor people can be theft only,” Kharge asserted.

However, the government made it clear that the discussion on SIR cannot take place in Parliament owing to constraints put by rules as also due to the matter being sub judice.

Also, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said the Opposition has launched a protest against SIR, as the voting rights of common people are being stolen. “This is against democracy,” she said.

Ghose, who is an MP from West Bengal, alleged that “oppression” was being carried out against Bangla-speaking people. “They are being put in detention centres. This is a grave injustice,” she added.

AAP was represented by its leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who held the government responsible for a half-session “whitewash” of the ongoing Parliament proceedings.

“There are three questions we want to put before the government regarding SIR. One is its basis, then there are documents for the SIR which are practically impossible to provide, and third is its timeline,” said Pathak.

RJD MP Manoj Jha termed the SIR a “dacoity.” He alleged that votes of the Dalits, OBCs and other backward communities were being snatched by this exercise.

“Parliament is a space in democracy where issues of the people are deliberated and discussed. This government is not allowing it to happen,” said Jha.

He added that the Opposition wanted to ask the government why, if the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include the Aadhaar card as proof to maximise voter inclusion, it was not accepted. “This is what we want to know. It is clear the EC is acting like BJP’s arm,” Jha alleged.

On July 17, AAP got itself disengaged from the INDIA bloc, saying the alliance was formed only for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. The party had also alleged that the BJP and Congress had entered a “secret, corrupt deal”. However, on the SIR issue, the Kejriwal-led party seems to be in alignment with the INDIA bloc.