‘Can’t Reverse Gear’: Centre Rejects Oppn's Demand To Discuss VB-G RAM G Law, SIR In Budget Session

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 16:52 IST

The Union Minister said that the government’s priority during the session would remain budgetary business.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju

The Centre on Tuesday categorically rejected the opposition’s demands for discussions on the VB-G RAM G Act as well as on the SIR in the Parliament’s Budget Session beginning Wednesday, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju saying that the Parliament cannot “reverse gear" on legislation already debated and enacted.

“We are elected to raise people’s issues, have freedom of speech; but it is also our duty to listen. Once law is before nation, we have to follow it. We can’t reverse gear and go back to the past. It cannot happen," Rijiju said while speaking to reporters after the all-party meeting convened on the eve of the Budget Session.

During the meeting, opposition leaders, including Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and CPI(M)’s John Brittas, pressed for discussions on a range of issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, VB-G RAM G law on employment guarantee that replaced the MGNREGA scheme, US tariffs on Indian goods, foreign policy, air pollution, the state of the economy and a proposed ban on social media for early teens, news agency PTI reported.

They also objected to the non-circulation of government business for the session, which the minister said would be done in due course. Rijiju said that the list of government business is usually shared after the President’s address, adding that officials had been instructed to circulate it in due course.

“This is the first session of the year. Normally, the list of government business is shared after the President’s address. However, I am prepared to share the list; I have told officers to do it," Rijiju said.

On demands for a fresh debate on the SIR process, particularly in West Bengal, Rijiju said both Houses had already held “marathon discussions" on electoral reforms in the previous session.

“Both Houses of Parliament had extensive discussions on electoral reforms in the last session, where this issue was also raised by the opposition. This is uncalled for if another debate is demanded." Rijiju appealed that members should raise their issues but there should not be any ruckus.

“My sincere appeal on behalf of the government to all honourable members is that in our Parliamentary democracy, we have been elected to represent the people and to speak for the people. While exercising our right to speak, we must also have the duty to listen to the members of other political parties," he said.

The Union Minister said that the government’s priority during the session would remain budgetary business, noting that the Economic Survey would be tabled on January 29 and the Union Budget presented on February 1.

Budget Session 2026

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on January 28 and will continue till April 2. It will begin with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The first phase of the budget session will be held from January 28 to February 13, and the second phase will take place from March 9 to April 2. There will be 30 sittings during the session.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey on January 29, while the Budget 2026 will be presented on February 1 at 11 am in the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from agencies)

News politics ‘Can’t Reverse Gear’: Centre Rejects Oppn's Demand To Discuss VB-G RAM G Law, SIR In Budget Session

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