Oppn resorting to hooliganism: BJP on protests against SIR in Parliament

LS adjourned for day as Oppn seeks debate on exercise- BJP Slams Opposition Parties Over Protest Against Bihar Voter List Revision

PTI, New Delhi, July 22, 2025 : The BJP on Tuesday slammed Opposition parties over their protest against the Bihar voter list revision, accusing them of resorting to "gundagardi" (hooliganism) to enable foreigners, including Bangladeshi and Rohingya "infiltrators," to gain the right to vote in elections.

Opposition members forced adjournments in the Lok Sabha by raising slogans and waving placards against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, also staged a protest over the issue in the Parliament House complex. The Opposition MPs gathered on the steps of Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans against the SIR exercise, alleging that it amounted to "stealing elections." They also held placards reading "SIR: Stealing Indian Rights" and "SIR: Subverting Indian Republic."

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Opposition parties, saying that the uproar over the SIR in Bihar is because those who base their politics on Bangladeshis and infiltrators are scared. "According to the Constitution, only Indian citizens can vote in elections. What is the problem if that is being checked? India is not a dharamshala," the former Union Minister told reporters in the Parliament complex.

Prasad further claimed that in Bihar's Araria, Kishanganj, and Purnia districts, more Aadhaar cards than the population of those districts have been issued. "Shouldn't this matter be looked into? Should it not be checked if someone is listed as a voter in more than one booth?" he asked.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh also attacked the Opposition, accusing them of trying to build pressure on a constitutional institution with their tactics so that it could be run their way. "You (Opposition parties) are doing 'gundagardi' with the Constitution; you are trampling the Constitution under your feet," the Begusarai MP charged. "Do they (Opposition) want foreigners, be it Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, to get the right to vote? If this is what they want, they should state it clearly," Singh told news agency PTI when asked for comment.

In the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Opposition members trooped to the Well when the House reconvened at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments on the second day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, demanding a discussion and rollback of the SIR exercise. Dilip Saikia, who was on the chair, made repeated requests to Opposition MPs to go back to their places and allow the House to function. As the protests continued, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju got up and condemned the Opposition's behavior.

Rijiju said it had been agreed at the Business Advisory Committee meeting on Monday that first, Operation Sindoor would be taken up for discussion, and the time for it had been fixed. "Only the rule under which discussion will take place will be decided. They come here carrying placards and violate the rules, I condemn this," he said. "They are asking for a debate, and we are ready for a debate, but they are not allowing the House to function," he said, slamming the Opposition.

“These double standards are wrong. On one hand, they ask for a debate and then create a ruckus like this,” Rijiju stated. He condemned the behavior of Congress and other parties.