Opposition: Government evading SIR debate, has lot to hide

NEW DELHI: Asserting that the Modi govt's refusal to discuss the revision of Bihar's electoral rolls in Parliament implies it has "a lot to hide", the joint opposition on Wednesday announced it will march to the Election Commission on Aug 11 to lodge its protest against the "manipulation of votes".The INDIA bloc held a joint press conference at Vijay Chowk, two hours after a group demonstration in Parliament complex involving top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Kanimozhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, Gaurav Gogoi, Kodikunnil Suresh - in a bid to convey to the govt that it will not relent on its demand for the discussion which has brought Parliament's Monsoon session to a halt.LoP in RS Kharge slammed as "flawed" the Centre and RS deputy chairman Harivansh's argument that the EC's actions and decisions cannot be discussed in Parliament, arguing that former RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2023, said "everything under the planet" can be discussed in the House, barring conduct of judges. He wrote to Harivansh that "the chair is a continuing entity", urging him to convene the discussion immediately.

The INDIA bloc leaders told reporters that the govt's bid to paint the opposition as sabotaging proceedings does not wash because it is denying demand for discussion. The gathering also had Sagarika Ghose (TMC), Manoj Jha (RJD), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena), Javed Ali Khan (SP), John Brittas (CPM), Sandosh Kumar (CPI), NK Premachandran (RSP), ET Mohammed Basheer (IUML), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Fauzia Khan (NCP). Sandeep Pathak of AAP, which has pulled out of the bloc, also joined in.

Kharge alleged that BJP indulged in irregularities in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, and is now planning it in Bihar.