Parliament in Stalemate: Opposition Demands Discussion on 'Votebandi'

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of causing disruptions in both Houses of Parliament by refusing to engage in discussions about alleged voter suppression through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which he termed "votebandi." Ramesh expressed these concerns in a social media post, highlighting the government's reluctance to address crucial matters.

In addition to the alleged "votebandi," Ramesh criticized the government's lack of clarity on scheduling discussions about the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, which have been of significant concern for the Opposition. He lamented the absence of a timeline for these debates in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

On the second day of the Monsoon Session, major disruptions occurred as Opposition members demanded immediate dialogues on the contentious SIR exercise in Bihar. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced adjournments until July 23, with continuations set for 11 AM the following day. The Lok Sabha experienced two adjournments earlier due to ongoing protests, prompting Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to condemn the Opposition for halting parliamentary work and accusing them of wasting public money, despite the government's openness to discussions.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal criticized the Opposition's use of placards during sessions, encouraging formal proposals and resolutions instead. Meanwhile, outside Parliament, notable figures such as Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav led protests at Makar Dwar, condemning the voter list revision and demanding cessation of the process, underlining the continuing demand for answers regarding the Pahalgam attack response and Operation Sindoor. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)