Opposition uproar over SIR adjourns Lok Sabha; Manipur GST Bill passed
Guwahati: The Lok Sabha witnessed continuous disruption on Monday as Opposition MPs intensified their protest demanding an immediate debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Their repeated sloganeering and demonstrations eventually forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
Despite the chaos, the government managed to push through key legislation. The House passed the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 after a short discussion. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the bill earlier in the day to replace the ordinance issued on October 7, 2025. Since Manipur remains under President’s Rule, Parliament has assumed the responsibility of enacting the amendment.
The day’s proceedings were marked by disorder from the start, with the Winter Session’s opening day—scheduled for 15 sittings—seeing repeated interruptions. The Lok Sabha faced two adjournments during Question Hour in the morning and another in the afternoon before the final adjournment at around 2:20 pm.
Opposition MPs stormed into the Well multiple times, raising slogans demanding a debate on the SIR process. The Election Commission recently announced the revision in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Of these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal will vote in 2026. Assam, which also goes to polls next year, is conducting a separate “Special Revision”.
During the brief Zero Hour, Finance Minister Sitharaman introduced three bills and tabled the supplementary demands for grants for 2025–26. Two of the bills seek to impose a fresh excise duty on tobacco and tobacco products, along with a new cess on pan masala manufacturing. These are titled the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025.
Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a pointed attack on the Opposition while addressing the media outside Parliament. He accused Opposition parties of converting Parliament into a “warm-up arena” for upcoming elections and a “pressure outlet” following electoral defeats. Modi urged MPs to prioritise constructive debate over theatrics, emphasising that Parliament must function as a platform for “delivery, not drama.”
“We need to work with a sense of responsibility,” the Prime Minister said, even offering to give the Opposition “tips” on fostering positive politics.