Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced that the Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' on December 8th, followed by a discussion on electoral reforms on December 9th. The decision comes after a truce was reached between the government and the opposition, ending a period of deadlock and heated exchanges.
The discussion on 'Vande Mataram' will commence at 12 noon on December 8th and is expected to last for the entire day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to initiate this discussion in the Lok Sabha. Following this, on December 9th, the House will debate electoral reforms, also starting at 12 noon. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has allocated 10 hours for each of these discussions, with the possibility of extending the time if deemed necessary by the House.
The agreement to hold these discussions was reached at an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Rijiju has appealed to all Members of Parliament, particularly those in the opposition, to cooperate and contribute meaningfully to ensure productive parliamentary proceedings. He emphasized that the discussion on electoral reforms would encompass various issues related to the election process in the country.
The opposition had been demanding an urgent discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing alleged disenfranchisement of marginalized communities. The government, however, insisted on first dedicating a day to the national song 'Vande Mataram'. While Rijiju reportedly ruled out a discussion specifically on SIR, stating it was an administrative matter for the Election Commission, he expressed willingness to discuss the broader subject of electoral reforms, as it falls within the government's purview.
The resolution of this standoff is expected to bring an end to the disruptions that have plagued the Parliament in recent days. The opposition INDIA bloc leaders are expected to meet to finalize their strategies for the upcoming discussions. The discussions promise to be engaging, with both the treasury and opposition benches prepared to delve into these important topics.
