The INDIA bloc MPs again on Thursday staged their protest within the Parliament House Complex to voice their concerns over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Review of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition MPs have been demanding a discussion in both houses of Parliament since the Monsoon Session started on Monday and have since been carrying out protests within the Parliament complex to demonstrate their opposition to the EC’s drive.
Notably, Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest on Thursday.
The opposition parties claimed the SIR exercise is being used to manipulate voter rolls, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters, particularly from marginalised communities.
The INDIA bloc alleged that the SIR drive is aimed at deleting names from voter lists, affecting the voting rights of marginalised communities.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of acting at the behest of the BJP, alleging that the institution has become partial. The opposition demanded greater transparency in the electoral roll revision process.
The protest, among other MPs, was also attended by the leaders of the opposition in both houses, Rahul Gandhi (Lok Sabha) and Mallikarjun Kharge (Rajya Sabha), and other INDIA bloc MPs.
The MPs displayed banners that said “SIR: Stealing Indian Rights” and “SIR: Subverting Indian Republic.”
The opposition demands include an immediate halt to the SIR process and a discussion on the issue in Parliament.
