Opposition pushes for detailed policy debate as government asks parties to ensure smooth session

The Winter Session of Parliament, scheduled from December 1 to December 19, is expected to begin with intense debates and major demands from the opposition parties. During an all-party meeting held a day before the session, opposition leaders strongly pushed for a detailed discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. They said that the process needs more transparency and must be debated inside Parliament, especially after reports of confusion, errors and concerns raised by different political parties.

Opposition parties also demanded a separate debate on national security in light of the November 10 blasts in Delhi. They said the incident has raised serious questions about safety, intelligence coordination and preparedness. Leaders emphasised that Parliament should openly discuss the matter so that citizens know what steps are being taken to prevent such situations in the future.

In addition to SIR and national security, the opposition wants discussions on several public issues. These include the rising air pollution across major cities, the economic stability of farmers, and foreign policy matters. According to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, these topics are important for the common people and should not be ignored during the session.

He said that the government must allow a fair debate instead of resisting questions raised by the opposition. He also claimed that the Election Commission is acting with bias before and after elections, which affects the credibility of the voter list. Gogoi said this is why a detailed discussion on the purity and correctness of the electoral rolls is necessary.

On foreign policy, he added that India’s decisions appear influenced by other countries. He said that India should act independently in matters like buying oil from Russia or making decisions about defence investments. He insisted that the opposition is united and ready to raise these issues strongly.

Members of different opposition parties echoed similar concerns. They said that the government must allow a healthy debate in Parliament and should not avoid questions on SIR or national security. Many of them also stressed that the SIR drive has created fear among people who are worried that their names might be removed from the voter list without proper verification.

Regional parties also step up pressure as government urges cooperation

The Samajwadi Party, which has a strong presence in the Lok Sabha, also expressed its intention to corner the government on the SIR issue. Speaking to reporters, party leader Ram Gopal said that the government cannot escape from answering questions about how SIR is being conducted. He said that people deserve clarity and Parliament must provide it.

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Similarly, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been openly critical of the SIR process. The party has repeatedly said that the drive is causing hardship and confusion for many voters in their state. The TMC has even lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, urging the poll body to stop the drive immediately and review its guidelines.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also raised concerns during and after the meeting. He said that the SIR process should not become a tool to remove people’s names from the voter list. He claimed that at least 40 booth-level officers have died during the process, which he said shows the stressful and difficult nature of the exercise. He urged the government to allow a debate on these issues instead of trying to silence the opposition.

All these demands suggest that the upcoming Winter Session could see strong resistance from the opposition, particularly on matters related to voter rights, national security and public welfare.

On the other hand, the government said it wants the two Houses to function smoothly. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed a press conference after the meeting and urged all parties to cooperate. He said that Parliament should not be disrupted and that debates should take place in an orderly and productive manner.

He added that the Winter Session is an important time for legislative work, and everyone should remain calm while participating in discussions. He said that if all parties decide not to disturb the proceedings, then the productivity of Parliament will increase. This, according to him, will strengthen democracy and help Parliament earn greater respect from the people.

The government’s message focused on peace, discipline and cooperation, while the opposition’s message focused on accountability, transparency and open debate. Both sides clearly have different priorities going into the session, and the coming days will reveal how these issues unfold on the floor of Parliament.

Overall, the all-party meeting showed that the Winter Session is likely to witness heated debates, demands for clarity on SIR, and sharp exchanges over national security, foreign policy and public welfare. The government hopes for a smooth session, while the opposition is preparing for strong and detailed discussions.