‘Widespread Apprehension’: Opposition MPs Demand Special Discussion on Bihar SIR in Letter to Speaker Om Birla

New Delhi: Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc on Friday (August 1) wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding a special discussion on the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which is due to go to the polls later this year.

"We, the undersigned Members of Parliament representing various Opposition parties, wish to express our deep concern over the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar, especially a few months before the state assembly elections,” the letter read.

“This is unprecedented. The Election Commission of India has indicated that similar exercises will soon be undertaken across the country. Given the widespread apprehension about the transparency, timing, and intent of this process, the matter requires the urgent attention of the House,” it added.

The letter has been signed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, TR Baalu (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), Supriya Sule (Nationalist Congress Party (SP)), N.K. Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party), Lalji Verma (Samajwadi Party), Kakoli Ghose Dastidar (Trinamool Congress), Arvind Savant (Shiv Sena (UBT)) and Abhay Kumar (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

The letter comes as the opposition has continued to protest against the contentious exercise, both inside and outside parliament. On Friday, too, opposition members protested outside parliament building, holding placards and banners. 

Meanwhile, both houses were adjourned after demands for a discussion on the SIR was not heeded to.

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"The Opposition has consistently raised this issue since the start of the current session. It was reiterated in several interactions with the Government, including the All-Party Meeting held on Sunday, July 20. While the Government has stated its willingness to discuss all issues, including this one, no date has yet been fixed for such a discussion," the letter said.

"A special discussion in the Lok Sabha will allow Members to seek clarity and ensure transparency and accountability. We, therefore, urge you to schedule a special discussion on the ongoing voter roll revision without any further delay,” it added.

While the Lok Sabha opposition members have written to Birla, in the Rajya Sabha amid demands for a discussion on the issue, deputy chairman Harivansh said that the discussion cannot be allowed.

“This matter is sub-judice. The Election Commission is a constitutional body and the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court,” he said, while declining notices submitted by opposition members demanding an urgent discussion.

Gogoi said to reporters that the government is hiding behind technical clerical justifications to not have a discussion.

“The poor, backward, SC/ST, minority communities are facing difficulties in getting their names enrolled on the voter rolls. Daily wage labourers are being forced to forgo their work to look for documents. All of this when they have just voted a year before (in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. All of this when elections are just a few months away. 

“Instead of coming up with a solution, the government is coming up with some technical clerical reason for not having a discussion. Any issue that affects the fundamental right to vote of a citizen should be taken up by the House,” he said.

“We are public representatives. And the public is facing a lot of difficulties. Once they agree to a discussion then we can decide how long it should be. But they are not even giving importance to the issue,” he added.

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