New Delhi: Trinamool Congress national joint secretary and Rajya Sabha parliamentary party leader Derek O'Brien responded to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's challenge regarding a parliamentary discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by highlighting past legislative proceedings.
O'Brien released archival video footage from December 1, 2025, indicating that members of the INDIA opposition bloc had previously sought a formal debate in the Rajya Sabha on electoral reforms and the SIR process, but the request was not permitted by the ruling party.
The exchange follows remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah during an address in Raipur, where he stated that the government stood prepared to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the SIR exercise and challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to enter the debate. Shah asserted that the opposition disrupted parliamentary sessions and took political issues to public streets instead of addressing them within the legislature.
In response, O'Brien posted a two-minute video excerpt of the upper house proceedings on X, alleging that the ruling party mocked parliamentary procedures by blocking the opposition's debate request in December 2025 while subsequently claiming a willingness to debate the matter.
The political dispute highlights escalating tensions between opposition parties and the Election Commission over the administration of the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Opposition members allege that the revision procedures have led to the improper removal of eligible voters from official rolls.
On November 1, the INDIA bloc conducted a rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, seeking accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the management and accuracy of voter lists.
(With inputs from media reports)