Opposition's protests over SIR in Bihar, Operation Sindoor bring Parliament to a standstill for second day in row

Indian Express

5 days ago

The Opposition disrupted proceedings in both Houses of Parliament for the second consecutive day on Wednesday over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and Operation Sindoor, leading to adjournments till Thursday.
While Lok Sabha was first adjourned till noon by Speaker Om Birla and then till 2 pm by Chair Sandhya Rai before being adjourned for the day, it did witness scant legislative business with the introduction of two significant Bills — the National Sport Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, 2025, by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.
Proceedings in Rajya Sabha, however, got completely drowned amid the Opposition's demand for a discussion on both issues.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, after the commencement of the proceedings, appealed to the protesting Opposition members to be part of the Question Hour since 11 of the 20 questions admitted pertained to farmers' welfare. Chouhan said the government also sought to inform the nation's farmers of various schemes and measures meant for them; this was followed by the Speaker's intervention.
'Today, a discussion on issues related to the country's farmers is supposed to take place…(but) you do not want Question Hour to take place. You do not want to discuss issues related to farmers,' Birla said.
'You bring placards to indulge in chaos — this is not in congruence with the traditions of the House. I appeal to all of you to go back to your places and be seated…and engage in a comprehensive debate on the issues of the country's farmers… This House is for discussion and communication, not sloganeering,' Birla said.
The proceedings resumed at noon with BJP MP Sandhya Rai in the Chair amid slogans of 'SIR wapas lo (Roll back SIR).' She too appealed to the Opposition members to resume their places but to no avail.
Despite the din, Mandaviya was able to introduce the two Bills. After another appeal by Rai to abide by the decorum of the House went unheeded by the Opposition, proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm.
As the House resumed at 2 pm, the Opposition members resumed sloganeering. Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the Chair, appealed to the protesting members to return to their seats as an important Bill related to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Goa was about to be tabled.
'This is not appropriate that you are not giving opportunity to an ST-related bill. Let there be a discussion on the STs of Goa,' he said. As the protests continued, Tenneti adjourned the House for the day.
Oppn seeks discussion on SIR, air safety in RS
Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, saw a complete washout as proceedings were marked by adjournments after Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected notices demanding a discussion on SIR, prompting protests.
Parliamentarians from all Opposition parties, including Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, protested the rejection of notices, and Harivansh adjourned the House till noon.
The day began with Union ministers laying papers on the table of the House. Harivansh then informed the House that he had received 25 notices under Rule 267 (which allows MPs to suspend rules for urgent discussions with the Chair's consent). These notices demanded a discussion on issues ranging from SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, displacement caused by demolition of slums in Delhi, discrimination against migrant workers from Bengal in other states, and the growing number of air safety incidents.
Harivansh rejected all notices on the grounds that they did not conform to past rulings and directives. This prompted an uproar from Opposition members, who stood up and reiterated the demand, especially the discussion on SIR, leading to an adjournment till noon.
Later, Harivansh sought the cooperation of MPs for conducting business during Zero Hour and urged them to let Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MP Vaiko speak as his term was set to conclude on July 25. Amid protests and sloganeering, Vaiko raised the issue of the arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka.
When the House reconvened, Ghanshyam Tiwari took the Chair and resumed business with Question Hour. He called on Communist Party of India's P Sandosh Kumar to ask a supplementary question but the protests continued. The MP also demanded a discussion on SIR. Tiwari soon adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
When Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2 pm, Vice-Chairman Bhubaneswar Kalita called on Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to move the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, for consideration.
While the minister moved the Bill, the Opposition continued protesting over the SIR issue. With the MPs continuing to demand that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak on the matter, Kalita adjourned the House till 11 am on Thursday.