Opposition’s Protests Over Voter List Cuts Slowing Down — Is the Battle Over?

National News: The Monsoon Session of Parliament continued to be overshadowed by heated protests over the SIR (Special Initiative for Revision) controversy. On the 17th day of the session, Opposition MPs again interrupted proceedings, shouting slogans and throwing pieces of paper toward the Chair. The uproar left no room for legislative work, prompting the presiding officers to adjourn both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha until 18 August.

Insiders suggest the government may choose to wrap up the session earlier than its official closing date of 21 August. This possibility arises because the Houses will not meet from 13 to 15 August due to Independence Day events, and the weekend of 16–17 August is also a non-working period. With so few sitting days left, ending the session ahead of schedule is now being discussed, though no formal decision has been announced.

Background to the SIR Dispute

The SIR process was introduced in Bihar as a large-scale cleanup of the electoral rolls. Officials claim it removed over 65 lakh voter names. The breakdown, according to official data, includes 22 lakh deceased voters, 36 lakh who had moved away, and 7 lakh whose names appeared in more than one location.

The Opposition, however, believes the exercise was carried out hastily and without proper verification. They allege that many eligible voters were wrongly deleted, calling the move an assault on democratic rights. From the very beginning of the Monsoon Session, they have consistently demanded a dedicated debate on the impact of the SIR.

Scenes of Disruption

On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha witnessed some of the most chaotic scenes of this session. Opposition members crowded near the Speaker’s chair, shouted slogans, and threw torn paper sheets towards the dais. Similar scenes were reported in the Rajya Sabha, forcing multiple adjournments.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the behavior, saying it undermined the dignity of Parliament. He recalled his own years in the Opposition, saying that while protests were common, they were always done in an orderly manner.

Legislative Business Pushed Through

Despite the repeated disruptions, some bills did get passed—many without debate. The Rajya Sabha cleared the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, while the Lok Sabha approved the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025.

Earlier, on Monday, eight bills were passed in quick succession without discussion, including tax-related legislation, a bill on Goa’s tribal assembly constituencies, the Merchant Shipping Bill, and GST changes for Manipur.

Street Protests and March to EC

The political battle has also spilled onto the streets. On Monday, nearly 300 Opposition MPs marched to the Election Commission office, accusing the government of “vote theft” through the SIR process. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, were among those detained briefly before being released.

Protesters shouted slogans such as “Stop stealing votes” and “Down with dictatorship.”

Rahul Gandhi’s Claims

Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of not doing enough to stop voter fraud. He cited Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, alleging that over one lakh votes were wrongfully recorded, with some individuals casting ballots twice.

With tensions high and sittings disrupted, there is growing uncertainty about whether Parliament will see any meaningful debate before the Monsoon Session comes to an end—possibly earlier than planned.