logo
Sonia, Priyanka, other Opposition leaders protest against SIR in Parliament premises

Sonia, Priyanka, other Opposition leaders protest against SIR in Parliament premises

Hans India6 hours ago
Several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties, including Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Tuesday against the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar, and demanded its rollback.
With banners and posters against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as other opposition MPs raised slogans and demanded a rollback of the SIR as they stage their protest near Parliament's Makar Dwar.
This was the tenth day of their protest with only one day gap in between on Monday when the opposition skipped their protest in view of the demise of former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren.
There were two huge banners in front of the protesting MPs -- one in Hindi and the other in English -- which read 'Our Vote. Our Right. Our Fight.'
Another banner carried by the protesting MPs read 'SIR - Silent Invisible Rigging'.
With 'Stop SIR' placards along with posters, alleging collusion between the EC and the government, in hand, the MPs of the opposition, including those of the Congress, DMK, TMC, and Left parties, among others, participated in the protest and raised slogans.
The opposition has been protesting in both Houses of Parliament against the SIR, alleging the EC's exercise was aimed at "disenfranchising voters" in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections. They have been demanding a discussion on the issue in both Houses.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

H-1B visa tension rises amid US lawmaker's call to curb Indian tech hiring
H-1B visa tension rises amid US lawmaker's call to curb Indian tech hiring

Economic Times

time27 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

H-1B visa tension rises amid US lawmaker's call to curb Indian tech hiring

NYT News Service A social media post by US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has intensified political scrutiny over the H-1B visa programme, widely used by Indian professionals. On August 4, Greene wrote on X, 'End Indian H-1B visas replacing American jobs instead,' while reposting former President Donald Trump's call for higher tariffs on Indian exports over its oil trade with statement, though not tied to any legislative move, has drawn strong reactions from Indian students, legal professionals, and tech workers in the United States. It also coincides with remarks from Trump's aide Stephen Miller, who in a Fox News interview accused India of undermining US interests on trade and immigration.'India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world. But they don't accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us. We also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policy,' Miller said. India continues to be the top source of H-1B visa recipients. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), nearly 70% of all H-1B visas approved in FY 2024 were granted to Indian nationals. The programme is often a key step for international students transitioning from academic training to full-time employment in the US. Greene's statement emerged in the context of rising US-India trade tensions, with Trump demanding tariff retaliation for India's energy imports from Russia. While Greene tied her comment to American job losses, Miller's interview offered further criticism of India's economic and immigration practices. Though no new visa restriction has been introduced, the political messaging has prompted concern. US lawmakers have recently debated reforms such as more transparency in the H-1B lottery, better wage protection for domestic workers, and broader access for STEM graduates trained in US institutions. No policy change yet, but messaging matters As of August 2025, the F-1 visa and the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programmes remain operational. Indian students and professionals applying for H-1B visas continue to follow the existing process. However, experts advise staying informed through USCIS updates and seeking legal or academic guidance for long-term Greene and Miller's remarks do not carry immediate policy consequences, they reflect growing scrutiny around skilled migration programmes and outsourcing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can Coforge's ambition to lead the IT Industry become a reality? BlackRock returns, this time with Ambani. Will it be lucky second time? Amazon is making stealthy moves in healthcare, here's why! The trader who blew the whistle on Jane Street Stock Radar: Globus Spirits breaks out from 9-month consolidation; check target & stop loss for long positions Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large-caps have 'strong buy' & 'buy' recos and an upside potential of more than 25% Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 36% in 1 year

INDIA bloc's Election Commission march over SIR rescheduled to August 11
INDIA bloc's Election Commission march over SIR rescheduled to August 11

Economic Times

time27 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

INDIA bloc's Election Commission march over SIR rescheduled to August 11

Synopsis The Opposition's march to the Election Commission of India, initially planned for August 8, has been moved to August 11 due to the passing of former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren. Despite the rescheduling, the INDIA bloc leaders' dinner meeting will proceed as planned on August 7 at Rahul Gandhi's residence. PTI LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi consoles Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as he visits Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay his respects to the latter's father, former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, in New Delhi. The Opposition's march to the Election Commission of India headquarters against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar has been rescheduled to August 11, a source said on Tuesday. The march, earlier scheduled to be held on August 8, was rescheduled after the death of former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren. The schedule of the dinner meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders remains the same, and will be held on the evening of August 7 at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's new residence - 5, Sunehri Bagh road. Popularly known as Guruji, Shibu Soren died at a private hospital in Delhi on Monday. Several Opposition leaders are visiting Ranchi on Tuesday to pay their last respects to the leader credited with leading the agitation for the formation of the state of Jharkhand. Following his death, a protest that the Congress was to hold in Bengaluru on Tuesday was postponed to August 8. That protest is to be led by Rahul Gandhi. The Congress is protesting against what it calls large-scale manipulation of electoral rolls in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura constituency in the 2023 Assembly polls. At a meeting of the INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday morning, Opposition leaders agreed that SIR remains the key issue for the Monsoon Session, and they will continue protests inside, as well as outside, the House, pressing for a debate on the issue. Opposition parties have warned that the exercise may lead to disenfranchisement of many, and have called it "vote-bandi" and "vote-chori" (vote theft).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store