Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has written a letter to Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, urging him to allow discussion on Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which is being undertaken by the Election Commission of India in Bihar.
The senior Congressman, Kharge, at the outset of the letter, reminded Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, who has been presiding over the House since Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar resigned, that on July 21, 2023 the then Chairman of Upper House, had given a ruling the it is “entitled to discuss everything under the planet” with one restriction and “this one restriction” relates to the conduct of any Judge of the Supreme Court or that of a High Court in the discharge of his duties.
It is clear from this ruling of the Chair that the Rajya Sabha is entitled to discuss the issue of revision of electoral rolls, which is of “fundamental importance” in our democracy, he said.
“You will undoubtedly appreciate that the Chair is a continuing entity. You yourself have quoted rulings given by the Chair over the past many years in support of some of your decisions,” he added.
“I, therefore, on my own behalf and behalf of the Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha, am writing to request you to immediately allow a discussion on this issue that is of paramount concern to crores of voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society,” Kharge said in the letter.
The SIR of the electoral rolls is being undertaken by the Election Commission of India first in Bihar, and to be taken up in West Bengal, Assam and other states.
Meanwhile, both the houses of the parliament have been witnessing continued disruptions from day one of the ongoing monsoon session as the Opposition parties have been repeatedly asking for an urgent discussion on the issue.