Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Uproar Over Bihar Electoral Rolls Revision

Rajya Sabha proceedings were repeatedly disrupted as Opposition MPs protested over Bihar’s electoral roll revision and alleged CISF presence, leading to adjournment after two statutory resolutions were passed amid uproar-Photo Credit-PTI

Opposition demands debate on Bihar voter list revision; House adjourned after passing two key resolutions.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted again on Tuesday August 5, 2025 as Opposition MPs continued to press for a discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day soon after approving two statutory resolutions.

The Upper House saw its first adjournment around 11.45 am. When the Rajya Sabha met again at 2 pm, Opposition MPs were on their feet demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar.

Amid ruckus, Harivansh, who was in the Chair, took up two statutory resolutions, including one for extending the President’s rule in Manipur for another six months, and one of the Finance Ministry to amend the Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.

As soon as MoS Pankaj Chaudhary tabled the resolution related to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, Opposition MPs started raising slogans against SIR. Amid din, the Chair put the resolution to vote, and it was approved. The House then took up a resolution to extend the President’s rule in Manipur.

“It’s a statutory resolution. All of us, as MPs, have to follow constitutional provisions. These have a time limit within which it has to be disposed, if it is not done, you are aware of the problems it can create,” Harivansh said. “Since the beginning of the session, we have passed only one Bill,” he said. He then called MoS Home Nityanand Rai to move the resolution on Manipur.

“I sincerely hope members will rise to the occasion, use the floor meaningfully and utilise the time… in a manner befitting the gravity of the matter, and fulfil the Constitutional obligation,” the Chair said.

TMC MP Sushmita Dev and DMK leader Tiruchi Siva urged the chair to conduct a debate on SIR. Harivansh, however, said anything not related to the resolution being taken up will not go on the record. Several MPs were on their feet.

The Chair then called Subhash Chandra Bose Pilli of YSRCP to speak, after which MPs started raising slogans. TMC MPs were standing next to the YSRCP MP and raising slogans against the SIR exercise.

BJD MP Muzibulla Khan spoke next, and said, “When Manipur law and order situation was bad, Article 356 was imposed. Today, the situation of law and order in Odisha is bad…”

“Double-engine government in Manipur failed…. Has the situation improved after so many months of the President’s rule or not? Minister should inform us… Centre should take responsibility, removing an elected government and imposing President’s rule repeatedly is also not good,” he said.

TMC MPs Sushmita Dev then trooped into the Well of the House, after which Marshals were seen entering the House and blocking the entry points to the Well. The Chair appealed to the members to maintain order in the House. However, more MPs trooped to the Well of the House, including TMC members Sagarika Ghose, Ritabrata Banerjee, and Samirul Islam.

Later, MPs from Congress and other parties also trooped to the Well of the House, as they pushed their way through the barricading created by the Marshals. As Rai spoke while moving the resolution for passing, Opposition MPs were heard raising slogans “Amit Shah jawab do” (Amit Shah give answers).

The resolution was passed through voice. The Chair then adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, in the morning sitting, Congress and other Opposition parties created uproar in the Rajya Sabha soon after the House met, alleging CISF personnel were deployed in the House last week, an assertion vehemently rejected by both the Chair and the government, who said the personnel belonged to parliamentary security services.

Soon after the listed papers and reports were tabled during the Zero Hour (morning session), Deputy Chairman Harivansh rued that the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, had shared a letter written to him with the media.

In the letter on Friday, Kharge stated that CISF personnel were deployed in the House and were preventing Opposition leaders from exercising their democratic rights. Referring to Kharge’s letter, Harivansh objected that it was shared with the media, as such communications fall under the privileged category.

The Chair said the presence of personnel from parliamentary security services was nothing new, and they are specially trained to do their job without using force. Harivansh also pointed out that the House has witnessed repeated disruptions. He asked how raising slogans, entering the Well of the House and disturbing other members can be termed as “democratic right of protest”.

The Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader, Kharge, said he has issued a press note on the letter for the benefit of the members. Kharge emphasised that the Opposition was protesting in a democratic way and will continue to do so. “CISF is being brought into the House. Are we terrorists?” Kharge asked. Countering Kharge’s claim, Harivansh asserted, “They were not from CISF.
It was a parliamentary security service”.

The Congress leader said the parliamentary security service is well-equipped to provide security to MPs. “But do you want to run the House by bringing in police and military,” he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought a clarification from the Chair on what action needs to be taken against wrong claims being made by the Leader of Opposition (LoP). “Only marshals can enter the House.

That day there were only marshals. LoP is misleading and putting forth wrong facts. When a misleading letter is written or a wrong fact is presented, what action needs to be taken?” Rijiju questioned. The Chair again gave the floor to Kharge, who asked, “Are you (Chair) running the House or Home Minister Amit Shah?”. To this, Harivansh told Kharge that it was a wrong allegation.

Leader of the House and Union Minister J P Nadda said he has been in opposition for 40 years, and the Congress party should take tuition from him to become an effective Opposition party. He alleged that certain actions of opposition members cannot be termed as democratic protest, but “anarchy”. Amid uproar, the proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm. Earlier, the Chair rejected 34 adjournment notices under Rule 267 of the House.
( Source : PTI )