New Delhi – The Parliament winter session is set to commence on December 1, 2025, amid significant tension between the government and Opposition parties. During an all-party meeting convened on November 30, Opposition leaders strongly demanded discussions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and national security, threatening to disrupt parliamentary proceedings if their demands are not met.
All-Party Meeting Highlights Key Concerns
The all-party meeting held before the Parliament winter session revealed deep divisions between the treasury and Opposition benches. Opposition parties characterized the meeting as a mere formality, alleging that the government has predetermined the agenda without proper consultation. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the Modi government for listing subjects for short duration discussions without Opposition input.
The Parliament winter session, scheduled for just 15 days, will be the shortest in parliamentary history according to Ramesh. He highlighted that the government has listed 13 bills for passage, with ten bills not examined by the concerned Standing Committee. This rushed approach has raised concerns about proper legislative scrutiny during the Parliament winter session.
Opposition’s Primary Demand: SIR Discussion
The most contentious issue heading into the Parliament winter session is the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Samajwadi Party took a particularly strong stance, with leader Ram Gopal Yadav asserting that his party would not allow the House to function if discussion on SIR is not held during the session.
Yadav emphasized that the government cannot avoid discussing SIR by claiming it is being conducted by the Election Commission. The Opposition has raised serious concerns about the SIR process, alleging it could be used to delete legitimate voters from electoral rolls. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee revealed that 40 booth-level officers have died during the SIR process, raising questions about the exercise’s implementation.
National Security Debate Demanded
Following the recent Delhi blast incident, Opposition parties strongly pressed for a discussion on national security during the Parliament winter session. Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi stated that his party demanded comprehensive debate on security matters, including national security concerns arising from the blast.
However, Gogoi claimed that the government appears unwilling to hold short duration discussions on national security. TMC’s Banerjee also called for an elaborate discussion on national security, emphasizing its critical importance for the nation.
Democracy Under Threat Allegations
The Parliament winter session is beginning against a backdrop of serious allegations from Opposition parties about threats to democratic institutions. Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the ruling party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership wants to “finish off” democracy, “derail” Parliament, and “bury” parliamentary traditions.
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Congress demanded discussions on multiple critical issues during the Parliament winter session including national security, air pollution, ensuring purity of voter lists, farmers’ issues, and foreign policy. Gogoi emphasized that the Opposition is united and does not want the temple of democracy used only to sing praises of one person.
Election Commission Bias Claims
The Parliament winter session will likely witness heated debates over allegations of Election Commission bias. Gogoi stated that the Election Commission has been acting in a biased manner before, during, and after elections. The Opposition has specifically demanded discussion on the purity of voter lists, linking it to the broader security of democracy.
TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee questioned why issues like SIR and MGNREGA raised by his party were not allowed to be discussed previously, claiming the Speaker had indicated the government was unwilling. He demanded that 40% of the Parliament winter session time be allocated to Opposition as 70% is currently taken by treasury benches.
Additional Issues on Opposition Agenda
Beyond SIR and national security, the Parliament winter session will see Opposition parties raising several other critical concerns. Congress highlighted air pollution as a major issue requiring discussion, with Gogoi emphasizing it as a matter of public health and environmental security.
Economic security, particularly regarding farmers not receiving appropriate prices for their produce and protection against natural disasters, was also flagged for debate. On foreign policy, Gogoi criticized the government for formulating policies based on other countries’ preferences, citing examples of pressure regarding oil purchases from Russia and defense investments.
Parliamentary Functioning at Stake
The Parliament winter session faces potential disruption if the government does not accommodate Opposition demands. While the Samajwadi Party has explicitly threatened to stall proceedings, TMC’s Banerjee expressed hope that good sense would prevail and the government would allow SIR discussion.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva confirmed that all Opposition parties are united on the SIR issue, making it the common demand heading into the Parliament winter session. CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in SIR, national security following the Delhi blast, and air pollution.
Conclusion
As the Parliament winter session begins, the stage is set for confrontation between government and Opposition. The demand for debates on SIR and national security reflects deeper concerns about democratic processes and national priorities. Whether the shortest parliamentary session in history will address these critical issues or witness disruption remains to be seen, with implications for India’s democratic functioning and legislative productivity.
