New Delhi: After resisting throughout the monsoon session the opposition’s demands for a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter rolls, the government on Tuesday (December 2), the second day of the winter session, agreed to a debate on electoral reforms, including the SIR, next week. 

The discussion, however, will only be conducted after a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram. The parliament’s announcement comes at a time when the exercise is being conducted across 12 states and union territories. It also comes amid increasing deaths of block level officers (BLOs) engaged in the exercise.

The decision was taken after floor leaders of all parties met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his office this afternoon as opposition members in both houses raised the demand for a discussion on SIR.

The special discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram will be held on Monday (December 8), and that on electoral reforms will be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday (December 9 and 10).

However, following the meeting, Union minister for parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijiju said that only electoral reforms can be discussed in parliament, whereas the SIR is an administrative decision of the election commission which the government cannot comment on.

"We were saying earlier also, that the Election Commission has a large role because it conducts elections across the country. There are rules and regulations including the Representation of the Peoples' Act that was passed by parliament itself. Election reforms have to be discussed in parliament only. SIR is an administrative decision of the Election Commission so the government cannot say anything on it as the Election Commission is independent,” Rijiju said.

“That is why we had kept it separate. But now that we have all come together, the government's position will also be put forward in front of the country and it will be clear about the allegations that they are leveling against us,” he said.

In the Rajya Sabha, while notices under 267 were rejected, leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that a discussion on SIR is in the interest of the country and must be conducted now.

“Discussion on SIR is in the interest of the country, citizens, and democracy. We all are ready to discuss this issue with the government. These are urgent matters; more than 28 people have died due to the SIR work pressure. I want the discussion to take place now, only in the interest of democracy, citizens and our country,” he said.

This is when Rijiju said that the opposition’s demand is under consideration and a discussion on electoral reforms and SIR can only take place after a discussion on Vande Mataram.

Opposition parties said that in the spirit of democracy they had decided to change tactics.

“A responsible opposition has done all it takes to get the parliament to function. We have been gracious and accommodating, even though we are up against a government who mock Parliament. Yes, a discussion on  SIR was, and is, a top priority (people are dying). However, in the spirit of parliamentary democracy, we accepted the government’s proposal about timing and made a tactical change. We will corner the government in both debates,” said Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien.

Earlier on Monday, opposition MPs had alleged that while a discussion on SIR had been agreed upon in the all-party meeting ahead of the session, there is a “trust deficit” as the government had let the previous monsoon session end in a washout without a discussion.

Opposition members had also said that the government can word the discussion in any way they prefer, but SIR should be discussed in the house. The government, on the other hand, said that it is “not averse” to a discussion on SIR, conditions of a timeline cannot be imposed.

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