New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday reiterated the Opposition's demand for a discussion in Parliament on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stressing the need to flag "irregularities in the voter list and vote theft".
Addressing a press conference, Kharge said, "We want a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Everyone has been continuously asking the Speaker, Chairman and the Government in a very calm manner that our votes should not be stolen. We want that we get a break to discuss this and the irregularities in the voter list and the theft of votes."
Kharge emphasised that the Opposition wants to highlight the "mistakes" in the SIR process and offer suggestions in the interest of the country.
"We want that if a complete discussion is held, then wherever they have made mistakes and whatever they are doing in an unconstitutional manner, we can answer them, give suggestions and in the interest of the country, especially we can protect those voters who are losing their rights," he said.
He further pointed out that in 2023, then Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar had said that everything under the planet can be discussed in Parliament and questioned Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh over dismissing the discussion while referring to a ruling from 1998.
"He (Deputy Chairman in Rajya Sabha) said that we cannot discuss SIR. On 21st July 2023, the then Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that this House is entitled to discuss everything under the planet. So every matter has been discussed and that is why we are demanding the same," Kharge said.
Kharge further alleged that votes belonging to minorities, Dalits and tribals are being cut through the SIR process.
"Whose votes are being cut? Minority votes are being cut, Dalit votes are being cut, tribal votes are being cut, MNREGA workers' votes are being cut, and the migrant workers are being deprived of their rights," he said.
Earlier in the day, several Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex, voicing strong opposition to the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar.
The protesting members, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, held a banner which reads "The SIR: Demand discussion not deletion!".
While speaking to ANI, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Have they become so weak? They are neither able to run the Parliament nor respond to Trump...We are only asking for a discussion. It is easy for them to resolve this..."
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