The Congress on Wednesday said that the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the Election Commission’s 'votebandi' exercise remains non-negotiable in both Houses of Parliament, amid continued disruption over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the Chair in the Rajya Sabha is a "continuing entity" and must adhere to established rulings and conventions.
Jairam Ramesh slammed the Deputy Chairman's ruling that matters related to the Election Commission could not be discussed in Parliament, citing a precedent set by the Lok Sabha Speaker on December 14, 1988.
However, Ramesh pointed to a contrary ruling delivered on July 21, 2023, by the Rajya Sabha Chairman, a nominee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had asserted that the Upper House is entitled to discuss any issue “under the sun”, barring the conduct of judges, unless in the context of an impeachment motion.
"The then-Chairman had also clarified that the concept of sub judice was totally misconceived," Ramesh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), questioning why this ruling was being ignored.
The Opposition has alleged that the SIR exercise in Bihar is politically motivated and aimed at manipulating the voter rolls ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Protests have erupted across both Houses, with INDIA bloc MPs demanding an open discussion on the matter.
"The Opposition's demand for a discussion on the votebandi and votechori, being orchestrated by G2 through the Election Commission in Bihar, and soon to be extended to West Bengal, Assam and other states, is non-negotiable," Ramesh asserted.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday had dared the government to debate the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar and claimed that the fact that the House is not being able to run smoothly is a manifestation of the ruling side's weakness.
Her remarks came amid the logjam in Parliament due to vociferous protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties have also been staging a protest in the Parliament House complex on the issue.