INDIA Bloc MPs demand Parliament debate on Bihar SIR, write to LS speaker
Following vehement protests by Opposition parties over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Friday (Aug 1) and the Rajya Sabha till 11 am on Monday (Aug 4)
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Friday (August 1) and the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am on Monday (August 4) following vehement protests by Opposition parties over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
As soon as the day's proceedings started, Opposition members wanted to raise various issues, and some of them also trooped into the Well of the House.
'Vote theft'
INDIA bloc parties Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, and RSP have written a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asking for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being carried out in Bihar.
"We have open-and-shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft...Most importantly, whoever in the Election Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you," said Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi on the SIR exercise in Bihar.
Amid sloganeering and display of placards by the protesting members, Speaker Om Birla said the decorum of the House should be maintained and also urged them to go back to their seats.
Birla repeatedly asserted that the behaviour of the members was not appropriate and also took the name of senior DMK leader T R Baalu, asking whether it is right to protest.
Efforts should be made to strengthen democracy and people have given the opportunity to raise their issues, Birla said as he again urged the protesting members to allow the House to run.
The Question Hour was disrupted due to the protests. With the din continuing, the proceedings were adjourned within three minutes till 2 pm.
Rajya Sabha too was adjourned till 12 noon as Opposition parties disrupted the proceedings, demanding a discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The government has listed a couple of Bills in both Houses for introduction, consideration, and passing. The statutory resolution for extending President’s Rule in Manipur, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 30), has also been listed for passing in the Rajya Sabha again on Friday.
Govt response on Trump's tariffs
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday (July 31), speaking in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha, said the government is carefully studying the implications of the 25 per cent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Goyal said India would take all necessary measures to protect its national interest.
“The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is holding talks with exporters, industries, and all stakeholders and gathering information on their assessment of this issue. The government gives utmost priority to the safeguarding of welfare of farmers, labourers, entrepreneurs, industrialists, exporters, MSMEs, and stakeholders of the industrial sector,” said the minister.
Rahul Gandhi created a stir on Thursday when he said that Trump was right in saying the Indian economy is a dead economy.
“Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact. The whole world knows that the BJP has finished the Indian economy to help Adani,” Rahul told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Related stories:
Monsoon Session: Protecting farmers, MSMEs key in India-US trade talks, says Goyal
Rahul derails Opposition focus by backing Trump’s ‘dead economy’ remark
Trump embarrasses Modi again? Ceasefire claim sparks political storm
Rahul Gandhi says Trump right on making 'dead economy' remark about India
10 things PM Modi said about Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha
Follow this space for more live updates
Live Updates
- 1 Aug 2025 12:46 PM IST
Operation Sindoor artwork to be gifted to PM, symbolises strength, sacrifice: BJP MP
BJP MP Hemang Joshi brought an art piece to Parliament representing Operation Sindoor, saying it reflects India’s strong response to the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam.
The artwork, he said, symbolises the resilience of victimised women, the strength of women army officers, and the empowerment and self-reliance of the Indian Army.
Calling Vadodara the “art city,” Joshi said he wishes to present the piece to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:43 PM IST
Congress has 'open and shut proof' that EC is involved in 'vote theft': Rahul Gandhi
Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Accusing the Commission of facilitating "vote theft", he said Congress has “open and shut” proof of EC's involvement in "vote theft".
Rahul warned that those complicit in the exercise — from top officials to retired staff — will not be spared, calling their actions a betrayal of India and equating it to treason.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:30 PM IST
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on August 4
As Opposition MPs continued protesting and demanding a discussion on the Bihar SIR issue, proceedings in the Rajya Sabha are adjourned till 11 am on Monday (August 4)
- 1 Aug 2025 12:28 PM IST
Why is SIR happening just before Bihar elections? asks Dimple Yadav
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav questioned the timing and intent behind the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging that the removal of 60 lakh voters suggests the government does not want free and fair elections.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:25 PM IST
JDU MP Sanjay Jha asks opposition to wait for Supreme Court ruling on SIR
JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha questioned the Opposition’s continued protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, pointing out that the matter is already before the Supreme Court.
He said the Election Commission, a constitutionally empowered body, is conducting the revision and has allowed time for citizens to correct any discrepancies.
Jha emphasised that those protesting are the same people who approached the court and should now wait for its verdict instead of agitating on the streets or in Parliament.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:22 PM IST
Poor, elderly hit by SIR in Bihar; govt avoiding debate: Gaurav Gogoi
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it an insensitive exercise that disproportionately affects the poor and elderly, who are struggling to produce old documents.
He alleged that some officials are even demanding bribes during the process. Gogoi expressed frustration that the government refuses to allow a discussion on the issue, citing vague procedural reasons.
He added that the INDIA bloc has submitted a joint letter to the Speaker on behalf of all those impacted by the exercise.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:17 PM IST
Opposition disrupting Parliament, Congress backs anti-India voices: Kangana Ranaut
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut alleged that the Opposition, particularly the Congress, supports voices that speak against the nation and is creating constant disruption in Parliament.
She said that continuous sloganeering by Opposition members has made it difficult to function in the House, accusing them of encouraging hooliganism instead of meaningful debate.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:12 PM IST
Opposition MPs write to Om Birla, seek special discussion on Bihar SIR
Leaders of several Opposition parties, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, on Friday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to schedule a special discussion on the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar without any further delay.
In their letter to Birla, the Opposition MPs expressed deep concern over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, especially a few months before the state assembly elections.
INDIA bloc parties including Congress, DMK, SP, TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena, RJD, RSP write to Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, asking for discussion over Bihar SIR.
The signatories to the letter included Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Gandhi, Congress' Deputy Leader in the House Gaurav Gogoi, DMK's TR Baalu, NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, RSP's N K Premachandran, SP's Lalji Verma, TMC's Kakoli Ghose Dastidar, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Savant and RJD's Abhay Kumar.
"This is unprecedented. The Election Commission of India has indicated that similar exercises will soon be undertaken across the country. Given the widespread apprehension about the transparency, timing, and intent of this process, the matter requires the urgent attention of the House," the opposition MPs said in their letter.
The Opposition has consistently raised this issue since the start of the current session, the MPs said.
"It was reiterated in several interactions with the Government, including the All-Party Meeting held on Sunday, July 20. While the Government has stated its willingness to discuss all issues, including this one, no date has yet been fixed for such a discussion," the letter said.
The revision of electoral rolls has direct implications on the right to vote and the conduct of free and fair elections, the opposition MPs said .
"A special discussion in the Lok Sabha will allow Members to seek clarity and ensure transparency and accountability. We, therefore, urge you to schedule a special discussion on the ongoing voter roll revision without any further delay," they said in their letter to Birla.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:06 PM IST
Trump won’t outlast 2029, but India-US ties will: Karti Chidambaram
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram downplayed Donald Trump’s “dead economy” remark, calling it typical of the former U.S. President’s style.
He described Trump as a “showman” known for making flippant comments, and urged that such remarks should not be taken seriously.
Chidambaram emphasised the need for calm and sober diplomacy, saying that despite Trump’s rhetoric, negotiations often follow. He noted that Trump’s presidency has a clear end date in 2029, but the India-US relationship will last for centuries.
- 1 Aug 2025 12:01 PM IST
India’s fate linked to Adani, govt mum on Trump’s ‘dead economy’ jibe: Manickam Tagore
Congress MP Manickam Tagore slammed the Modi government for failing to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “dead economy” remark, calling it a grave insult to India.
He accused the government of aligning India’s economic growth narrative entirely with Adani’s rise, warning that if anything affects Adani, the entire Indian economy could collapse.
He added that even the Finance Minister has remained silent on Trump’s controversial comment.
