Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha adjourned till noon
What's the story
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon after opposition MPs entered the well of the House demanding discussion on the ongoing SIR. Before the session, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), including those from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, staged a protest outside the Makar Dwar of Parliament against the SIR of the electoral roll in 12 states and union territories. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Sonia Gandhi were also part of the protest.
Session disruptions
Lok Sabha adjourned amid opposition demands
The Lok Sabha session on Monday was repeatedly adjourned as opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the SIR. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, "The INDIA Alliance decided yesterday morning that we will stress for the discussion on SIR and the election electoral reform-related things." He stressed the need for a debate in Parliament over concerns about voting rights and democracy.
Citizenship concerns
Congress MP criticizes SIR for questioning citizenship
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh also slammed the SIR exercise for questioning citizenship. He likened it to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said, "This is not SIR, this is CAA....We object to it." Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aparajita Sarangi hit back at the opposition, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised MPs to work constructively in Parliament. Sarangi added if the INDIA bloc continues to raise "baseless issues," they would face similar electoral results as in Bihar Assembly elections.
Upcoming legislation
Central government to introduce excise amendment bill
On the second day of the Winter Session, the central government is likely to introduce the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will likely move this bill in Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Central Excise Act and proposes an increase in excise duty and cess on tobacco products.