Union Minister Kiren Rijiju turned down Opposition demands for discussions on the VB-G RAM G Act and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) during the Budget Session, saying the issues were already debated in Parliament and cannot be revisited
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. File pic
Centre on Tuesday rejected the Opposition's demands for discussions on the VB-G RAM G Act as well as on the SIR in the upcoming Union Budget 2026 session of Parliament that is set to begin on Wednesday, reported the PTI.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the two issues had already been debated by both houses, and "we cannot reverse the gear."
According to the PTI, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju made these remarks after an all-party meeting convened by the government on the eve of the Union Budget Session.
During the meeting, Opposition members, including the Congress' Jairam Ramesh and John Brittas of the CPI(M), also objected to the non-circulation of government business for the session, which the minister said would be done in due course.
Opposition members wanted a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the VB-G RAM G law on employment guarantee that replaced the MGNREGA scheme, the tariffs imposed by the US on India, foreign policy matters, the issue of air pollution, the state of the economy, and the ban on social media for early teens, among other issues, sources said.
Kiren Rijiju slammed the opposition over the VB-G RAM G Act
On the opposition's contentions on the VB-G RAM G Act, which was passed by Parliament during the Winter Session, the minister said, "Once a law is before the nation, we have to follow it. We cannot reverse the gear and go back," as per PTI.
The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs further said that opposition MPs put forth several issues, and these can be raised during debate on the President's address and the Budget.
After some opposition leaders complained that government business for the session had not been shared, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted, "This is the first session of the year. Normally, the list of government business is shared after the president's address. However, I am prepared to share the list; I have told officers to do it," PTI reported.
He added that this is not an important issue, and running the House smoothly remains the focus. Replying to a query on the demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, he said, "Both Houses of Parliament had extensive discussions on electoral reforms in the last session, where this issue was also raised by the opposition. This is uncalled for if another debate is demanded."
Kiren Rijiju further appealed that members should raise their issues, but there should not be any ruckus.
He further added, "My sincere appeal on behalf of the government to all honorable members is that in our parliamentary democracy, we have been elected to represent the people and to speak for the people. While exercising our right to speak, we must also have the duty to listen to the members of other political parties," as per PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
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