With Parliament logjam over the Bihar SIR issue continuing, the government is expected to push the National Sports Governance Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha is set to discuss a resolution on extending President’s rule in Manipur. The Monsoon Session has seen repeated disruptions over electoral roll protests.
Lok Sabha. Pic/PTI
Amid all the chaos that has been going on since the start of the Monsoon Parliament Session, the government is now likely to push on Monday the passage of a key sports bill in the Lok Sabha. With a continuing deadlock in Parliament as the opposition's united demand for a discussion on SIR failed to draw a positive response from the ruling alliance, the ruling party now aims to shift the discussion over to other issues.
The Lower House of the Parliament has listed the National Sports Governance Bill, which envisages greater transparency in the functioning of sports bodies, for consideration and passage for the third week of the Parliament Monsoon Session.
Whereas the upper house of the Parliament is listed for passage on Monday. Rajya Sabha has listed passage to discuss a resolution from Home Minister Amit Shah on the extension of the President's rule in Manipur by another six months with effect from August 13, as per news agency PTI.
Except for a two-day discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in both houses, parliamentary proceedings have been all but a washout. With discussions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar igniting vociferous protests from opposition parties, the proceedings have been majorly disrupted.
The INDIA bloc, which has in previous sessions often spoken in different voices, has joined ranks over the issue, alleging the Election Commission's exercise is aimed at removing voters sympathetic to its agenda and boosting the prospects of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Considering the protest from the opposition party, the Election Commission has said that it will roll out the exercise nationally to "protect" the integrity of electoral rolls to ensure that only eligible voters are allowed to cast votes.
Highlighting the Bihar SIR electoral voter roll, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also accused the EC of "vote chori" (stealing votes) and has been fiercely critical of the poll body. However, the EC had in a statement on Saturday rejected Gandhi's allegations as "baseless," "unsubstantiated," and "misleading,” as per news agency PTI.
On the other hand, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has maintained that it is for the Chair of the two Houses to decide on the Opposition's demand in accordance with the rules.
Highlighting the Bihar SIR electoral roll, a key government functionary said that if disruptions continue to block its agenda in Parliament, then it will push for the passage of its key bills despite the din.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had said on Friday that SIR is part of the Election Commission's mandate.
He highlighted, "This is not the first time the EC is doing it. Whether Parliament can discuss the EC's administrative work or not is for the Chair to decide in accordance with rules," as per news agency PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
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