jairam-ramesh-criticises-rs-deputy-chair-for-ignoring-key-rulings

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday strongly criticised the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for dismissing a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Ramesh's argument centered on what he sees as a selective application of parliamentary precedent, specifically questioning the use of a 1988 ruling by a former Lok Sabha Speaker while ignoring a more recent ruling from the current Rajya Sabha Chairman.

In a post on X, Ramesh stated, "The Chair in the Rajya Sabha is a continuing entity... Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman gave a ruling that because the Lok Sabha Speaker had said so on Dec 14, 1988, any matter concerning the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament." Ramesh argued that the Deputy Chairman's subjective use of this past ruling to quash the debate was problematic, especially when a more recent and relevant ruling existed.

The Chair in the Rajya Sabha is a continuing entity in spite of the comings to and the goings from it - both scheduled and unscheduled.

Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman gave a ruling that because the Lok Sabha Speaker had said so on Dec 14, 1988, any matter concerning the Election… pic.twitter.com/b4qtATczx3

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 6, 2025

#WATCH | On SIR in Bihar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, "The Opposition, the INDIA Alliance leaders wrote a letter to the Speaker. There is an ongoing vote theft and we have expressed grave concern over the same. This has started in Bihar right now, it will then be done in West… pic.twitter.com/QvpvTbZO1G

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025

 

Ramesh highlighted a ruling from the current Rajya Sabha chairman on July 21, 2023, in which the chairman had "categorically ruled that 'the Rajya Sabha is entitled to discuss anything under the planet with only one restriction.'" This single restriction, as Ramesh pointed out, pertained to the conduct of a judge. "The then-Chairman had added that the concept of sub-judice was totally misconceived," Ramesh noted. He questioned why this recent ruling was being 'wilfully ignored' by the Deputy Chairman.

Ramesh further demanded a discussion on the SIR, which he referred to as "votebandi and votechori" (vote-stoppage and vote-theft). He stressed that the Opposition's demand for a discussion on this issue, which he believes is being orchestrated by the ruling party through the Election Commission in Bihar and other states, is "non-negotiable in both Houses of Parliament."

 

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The political row over the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar has led to repeated adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as the opposition INDIA bloc insists on a full discussion. The INDIA bloc leaders are scheduled to hold a meeting today in the Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition's (LoP) office to formulate a strategy for their continued protest on the floor of the house.

 

#WATCH | Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, "Election Commission is a Constitutional institution. Unfortunately, for some time now, the Election Commission has been functioning only at the behest of the PM and HM...Serious matters have come to light in Karnataka, there has been a… pic.twitter.com/8jVAWpjnft

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025

 

Congress MP KC Venugopal voiced his party's concerns, stating, "We are protesting against SIR inside and outside Parliament. The Election Commission is systematically targeting the democratic values of this country." He accused the Election Commission of a lack of neutrality and alleged that the names of many voters have been excluded from the list in Bihar. Venugopal announced that the INDIA bloc would "reveal the serious malpractices of the Election Commission in Bengaluru on August 5."

 

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