The floor leaders of Lok Sabha agreed to hold a debate on the 150 years of Vande Mataram during an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla at his Parliament House chamber on Tuesday.
During the meeting, it was also decided that the government will allow a discussion on the SIR exercise issue on December 9, a day after the Vande Mataram debate.
“During the All Party Meeting Chaired by Hon’ble Speaker Lok Sabha today, it has been decided to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on 150th Anniversary of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ from 12 Noon on Monday 8th Dec and discussion on Election Reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday 9th Dec,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X.
K Suresh, the Congress’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, also confirmed the development, saying, “All parties have agreed to have a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram next Monday. On December 8 and 9, the discussion on electoral reforms will take place,” he said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had summoned a meeting of party leaders to break the ongoing deadlock after both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned amid Opposition ruckus over the SIR issue.
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs raised slogans and staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha as the Parliament logjam over the SIR exercise continued.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju agreed to discuss the issue but refused to commit to a timeline for the debate.
The Opposition had been demanding a priority discussion on the Election Commission of India’s controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Parliament during the winter session.
While the government agreed to discuss the SIR issue, it refused to share a timeline. Moreover, the ruling alliance also wanted to take up the “Vande Mataram” debate first.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha earlier today, Rijiju said, “Government is ready for discussion on electoral reforms. Opposition should not insist on a timeline.”
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that the members had given a notice under Rule 267 on SIR and the House should start a discussion on that. “This is an urgent matter. We want the discussion to take place now.”
As the government refused to give a timeline on the SIR debate, the MPs raised slogans against the government and staged a walkout from the House.
The disruptions forced the Chair to adjourn the Rajya Sabha till 11 am on Wednesday.
The issue of the SIR exercise also resonated in the Lok Sabha. Opposition members demanded a discussion on the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories.
The Lok Sabha was also adjourned till 11 am on Wednesday.
Aimed at overhauling the electoral rolls, the SIR exercise is currently underway in 12 states and UTs, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala.