Government, Opposition strike a truce on SIR debate

The Union Government and the Opposition parties on Tuesday agreed to end the logjam in Parliament and resolved to have a discussion on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in both the Houses — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The truce came after a series of adjournments and walkouts by the Opposition benches, following which an all-party meeting and a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting were convened, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Both sides also reached a consensus to debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram. While the treasury benches pressed to debate Vande Matram first and then the electoral reforms, the Opposition insisted vice versa. Before the standoff in the Rajya Sabha post lunch session, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Vande Mataram comes from us (Congress), not from them (BJP), to which Chairman CP Radhakrishnan said, “Vande Mataram is for everyone”.

After the all-party meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Lok Sabha will take up a debate on the 150th anniversary of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ on Monday and on electoral reforms on Tuesday.

 After discussion on both issues in the lower house, it will be held in the Rajya Sabha thereafter.

“During the All Party Meeting Chaired by Speaker Lok Sabha, it has been decided to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on the 150th Anniversary of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ from 12 Noon on Monday, 8th December and discussion on Election Reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday, 9th December,” Rijiju said in a statement.

Simultaneously, floor leaders from the Opposition parties will meet on Wednesday morning in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, to discuss their joint strategy in Parliament. Sources said TMC has not been participating in the meetings of Opposition parties since Monday.

Rijiju said after both the discussions are over, “We will propose to take it up in the Rajya Sabha”. “In any case, the discussion can be initiated in either of the Houses. But we have decided that it will be taken up in the Lok Sabha first. Otherwise, both Houses have the privilege to take up any matter. After all, they are complementary to each other; both Houses are extremely important,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Rijiju met floor leaders of political parties but refused to give a timeline for the discussion on electoral reforms, contending that the opposition cannot dictate terms to the Government. Rijiju is learnt to have ruled out a discussion on SIR, contending that it was an administrative matter of the Election Commission and the Government had no role in it.