New Delhi, July 22: Leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, staged a protest on Tuesday within the Parliament House complex, objecting to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition termed the move as an attempt to "steal elections."
Gathered at the Makar Dwar steps, MPs raised slogans and held placards reading, “SIR: Stealing Indian Rights” and “SIR: Subverting Indian Republic.” Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the demonstration.
The protest saw participation from MPs across parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, RJD, TMC, DMK, and JMM. Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc leaders held a strategy meeting attended by Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said the alliance would push for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House to address critical national issues, including the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, Trump's remarks on India-Pakistan ceasefire, the Bihar SIR process, delimitation, and rising violence against Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and women.
The AI 171 plane crash and the Manipur conflict were also flagged as urgent matters requiring PM Modi’s response.
Sources indicated that the opposition would continue to demand that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak in Parliament and that the issue of SIR would be raised in both Houses.
