Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 1: In New Delhi on December 1, tensions flared during the Winter Session of Parliament as debates over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls intensified. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra firmly rejected accusations that the opposition’s interventions amounted to “drama,” asserting instead that Parliament exists precisely to address urgent public concerns.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, she emphasized that issues such as rising pollution and the ongoing SIR exercise are vital to democratic functioning. “These are significant matters—whether it’s the election environment or the SIR process. What purpose does Parliament serve if not to debate these? Raising questions is not drama,” she said.
Sharpening her criticism of the government, Priyanka Gandhi remarked, “The real drama is refusing to allow discussions. The real drama is evading democratic debate on issues that affect citizens. We spoke about pollution—why should that not be brought up? I requested time during Zero Hour today. Why are we being denied the chance to discuss it?”
Inside the Lok Sabha, the Winter Session descended into chaos once again. Opposition MPs escalated their protests over alleged “vote theft” in recent elections and the SIR process underway across 12 states and union territories. Their demonstrations prompted a second adjournment of the day, this time until 2 pm.
The House, which had reconvened at noon after a turbulent morning sitting, was quickly engulfed in uproar. Opposition members surged into the Well, brandishing placards and chanting “Vote chor, gaddi chhor!” while demanding an immediate debate on what they described as a plot to remove legitimate voters through the SIR exercise.
Presiding over the session, deputy speaker Sandhya Rai repeatedly urged MPs to return to their seats, assuring them that over 20 adjournment notices filed by the opposition had not been dismissed and could be discussed if order was restored. Her appeals went unheard amid relentless slogans.
Before the disruptions intensified, the House managed to carry out some essential formalities, with ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Pankaj Chaudhary, and Kirti Vardhan Singh tabling documents from their respective ministries.
The disruption resumed almost instantly after the reconvening, as opposition MPs once again stormed the Well, demanding accountability and a full-fledged debate on their claims of voter deletion through the SIR mechanism.