Both houses adjourned amid Oppn protests on Day 5 of Monsoon Session

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned Friday without transacting any productive business for the fifth consecutive day due to persistent protests by the Opposition over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The protests led to repeated adjournments before the Chairs called it a day.

INDIA bloc MPs stuck to their demand for a discussion on the SIR exercise, citing concerns over voter disenfranchisement and alleging cheating in the voter list revision process. The Election Commission of India (ECI), however, has defended the SIR process, stating that it aims to ensure electoral integrity by removing ineligible voters from the rolls.

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Despite the disruptions, the government moved the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. However, the Bill that seeks to reserve seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly for Scheduled Tribes could proceed further as the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.

Meanwhile, the government and the Opposition hammered out an agreement to run the proceedings of both houses smoothly from Monday onwards, a ruling side MP Friday said.

The agreement was reached during a meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with floor leaders from various political parties and also the government. The meeting was attended by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Congress Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi among others.

The development assumes significance as it comes after a week of unabated disruptions due to the protests carried out by the Opposition parties in the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Source said as per the agreement, the government will hold a special debate on Operation Sindoor starting Monday. The debate will commence, allowing Opposition parties to raise concerns, and discuss the operation’s details.

The Operation Sindoor, Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, and the charges against Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma were among the other topics that were discussed at the meeting.

Later, talking to newsmen, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said: “The government is ready to hold discussions on key issues, including Operation Sindoor.” He emphasized the importance of coordination between ruling and opposition parties.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on July 21, has, over the week, seen heated arguments and disruptions over various issues, including Operation Sindoor and the SIR exercise in Bihar. The opposition has been demanding discussions on these topics, while the government has been pushing for the smooth functioning of Parliament.