Opposition Protests Against Voter Roll Revision in Bihar
Opposition March to Election Commission
New Delhi, Aug 11: A group of opposition lawmakers, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sharad Pawar, organized a march from the Parliament House to the Election Commission's office on Monday to voice their concerns regarding the voter roll revision in Bihar. However, their progress was halted by police at Transport Bhawan.
The MPs donned white caps emblazoned with a red cross and the phrases 'SIR' and 'vote chori', chanting slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative in Bihar while displaying various placards.
Prior to the march, they gathered at Parliament's Makar Dwar to sing the national anthem.
Law enforcement had set up extensive barricades along Parliament Street near Transport Bhawan to prevent the MPs from advancing.
Authorities instructed the MPs to halt their march, making announcements via loudspeakers as they were stopped from reaching the Election Commission headquarters, which is located just a short distance from the Parliament.
Notable participants in the march included T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, along with other opposition MPs from parties such as the DMK, RJD, and Left parties.
TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev, along with Congress members Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani, attempted to climb over the barricades at Transport Bhawan, shouting slogans against the Election Commission when police intervened.
They displayed posters and chanted slogans demanding the cancellation of the SIR.
One of the banners held by the protesting MPs read, 'SIR+Vote Theft=Murder of Democracy', while another stated, 'SIR - Loktantra Par Vaar'.
The MPs also carried placards questioning the silence on the SIR and accused the Election Commission of colluding with the government.
Numerous MPs displayed posters alleging 'vote theft', a claim made by Rahul Gandhi that the Election Commission has denied.
The opposition has been vocal in both Houses of Parliament against the SIR, asserting that the Election Commission's actions are intended to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. They have called for discussions on this matter in both Houses.
Parliament has experienced a stalemate over the SIR issue, leading to frequent disruptions and minimal legislative activity since the Monsoon session commenced on July 21.
Aside from discussions on Operation Sindoor, little legislative business has occurred during the Monsoon session due to repeated adjournments primarily related to the SIR controversy.