INDIA Bloc MPs demand Parliament debate on Bihar SIR, write to LS speaker

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.

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