New Delhi, Dec 2 (UNI) After two days of intense disruptions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a parliamentary deadlock appeared to ease on Tuesday with the government agreeing to hold a detailed discussion on electoral reforms, including the contentious SIR process. This breakthrough came during an all-party meeting of the Lok Sabha’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Speaker Om Birla.
The scheduled debate on “electoral reforms”—the term preferred by the government for the SIR—will take place on December 9, spanning 10 hours.
It will follow a session devoted to commemorating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram on December 8. Although a similar arrangement for the Rajya Sabha is yet to be finalized, the government has indicated willingness to engage on the issue in the Upper House.
The SIR, led by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is a vast exercise to verify and update voter lists, ensuring eligible voters are included and ineligible or duplicate entries removed. This nationwide revision, the first in over 20 years, is underway across 12 states and union Territories ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.
Opposition parties had demanded immediate discussion of the SIR process, citing allegations of arbitrary removal of legitimate voters—especially from marginalized groups—and raising concerns over the mental and physical strain on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), including reports of deaths linked to the work pressure.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition to refrain from disruptive tactics, cautioning, “Two to four parties are disrupting the House. In a democracy, people win and lose. They should not vent their anger like this… By doing this, you are losing the trust of the people.”
The decision to schedule the debate on the SIR exercise is expected to restore order and facilitate smooth functioning in the Lok Sabha. The ECI has encouraged voters impacted by the revision to check their details online and file claims or objections as needed.
As the Winter Session progresses, this development underscores the delicate balance required to implement electoral reforms while managing political sensitivities—highlighting the necessity of dialogue and cooperation to uphold the integrity of India’s democracy.
