Winter Session Opens Amid Uproar, Lok Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM as Opposition Demands SIR Debate

The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday on a stormy note, with the Lok Sabha witnessing repeated disruptions over the Opposition’s demand for an urgent discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The House, which convened at 11 AM, was forced to adjourn within minutes as slogans and protests escalated. After two brief suspensions, proceedings were ultimately pushed to 2 PM amid persistent uproar.

Speaker Om Birla appealed for decorum, stressing that Question Hour must not be disturbed. “This is not the time to raise issues. Disagreements and ideological differences are natural in politics, but solutions come through debate, not disruption,” he reminded members. Birla urged MPs to focus on people’s issues and uphold the dignity of the world’s largest democracy: “The people have elected you to raise relevant issues. Disrupting the House is not a good tradition.”

Despite multiple requests, Opposition MPs continued protests demanding an immediate debate on SIR, which they allege is leading to large-scale voter deletions and subjecting Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to unbearable pressure. Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Vijay Kumar Vasanth moved an adjournment motion, while Tagore accused the Election Commission of turning SIR into a “vote theft exercise,” claiming BLO fatigue and even suicides in states where the revision is underway.

The Samajwadi Party reiterated its warning that Parliament would not be allowed to function unless the SIR issue is taken up. SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said irregularities in voter list revisions cannot be brushed aside. BSP chief Mayawati also sought discussions on SIR, alongside Delhi’s worsening air pollution.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of undermining democratic traditions, alleging that the ruling dispensation is avoiding critical debates—from national security to voter list integrity. Meanwhile, CPM MP John Brittas expressed hope that the government would agree to a short-duration discussion on electoral reforms.

On the other hand, BJP MP Damodar Agarwal argued that SIR is sub-judice and cannot be discussed in Parliament, calling the Opposition’s concerns “unnecessary.”

Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged smooth functioning of Parliament and cautioned the Opposition against creating “drama.” He said the voter turnout in Bihar exemplifies the strength of Indian democracy, adding that first-time MPs must be given opportunities to speak. Opposition parties later hit back, calling the PM’s remarks “hypocrisy” and alleging that he routinely avoids engaging inside the House.

The opening day also saw obituary references to former MPs, including veteran actor-politician Dharmendra, Ravi Naik, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and Col. (Retd.) Sona Ram Choudhary.

The government has lined up 13 Bills for consideration during this short, 15-sitting session. Among them are the Jan Vishwas Bill, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment, the Atomic Energy Bill, the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Higher Education Commission of India Bill. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to introduce the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, which has been allotted six hours of debate time.

As the standoff intensified and disruptions continued, the Lok Sabha was finally adjourned till 2 PM, setting the tone for what is expected to be a heavily contentious Winter Session.

Also Read: Bills, Blasts and a Battle for Narrative: What Awaits Inside the House Today?