Govt ready to talk about electoral reforms in Parliament, but not before discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram: Kiren Rijiju

“We would like to propose from the government’s side, a discussion related to further electoral reforms. My specific appeal is that when the government is ready to take up the discussion, please do not put a condition that it should take precedence over other matters,” he said.

Rijiju said that in the first business advisory committee meeting, the government had proposed a discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and that is already listed. He said that as per this listed business, the government had decided time for three business items and time for the rest, he added, would be decided in the next meeting.

“In the meantime, I would like to request through you, the Chair, to Opposition members that Vande Mataram is a matter related to our freedom struggles. Matter related to electoral reforms also extremely very important…But to precede it with discussion on Vande Mataram may not be appropriate,” he said.

“Once government is ready, we will propose a date for discussion in consultation with other members and Honourable Chair, please allow the other business listed to be functioned,” Rijiju said. He urged the Opposition to not insist to take up the discussion on electoral reforms within a timeline.

Allow us to start discussion: Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition, rose to demand an immediate discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said that that as per Rule 267, all other issues should be kept aside, and the matter raised under Rule 27 should prevail over other business. “You give us permission to start discussion,” Kharge appealed to Rajya Sabha chairman C P Radhakrishnan.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien said that 14 Opposition parties had sought a discussion on the issue because people were being lost to suicides. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Tiruchi Siva appealed to the Chair and the government to give priority to the discussion on SIR. He said that the government was going back to square one and it was not keeping its word.

“Give an opportunity to vent people’s voice. When we have some burning issues, people are expecting and asking what the Opposition parties are doing. This is genuine and serious in nature,” he said.

John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that everyone was in favour of a discussion, and asked why the government was being obstinate. He said, “Our only request is that tomorrow let it start (at) 2, that will conclude day after tomorrow. Such a reasonable proposition has come from the Opposition… How can they be obdurate?”