Kharge, Gandhi and MPs from INDIA Bloc Rally Against EC’s Electoral Drive
Stop SIR’: INDIA Bloc Alleges Voter Suppression Ahead of Bihar Polls
New Delhi, August 7: Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, launched a powerful protest today against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. The demonstration took place near the iconic Makar Dwar entrance of the Parliament House complex, where MPs held banners reading “Discussion, Not Deletion” and “SIR – Silent Invisible Rigging,” alongside placards demanding “Stop SIR.”
The protest, now in its 12th day with just one hiatus to honor the passing of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, saw a strong turnout from allied parties. Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav, TMC’s Sagarika Ghose, and representatives from the DMK, TMC, and Left parties also participated, united in vocal opposition to what they view as a coordinated effort between the Election Commission and the government.
“They’re attempting to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections,” Kharge said, emphasizing that their cries are not for disruption, but to demand parliamentary debate on what they deem a serious threat to democratic fairness.
Indeed, Parliament has been mired in gridlock over the SIR issue, with repeated adjournments stalling virtually all legislative business since the monsoon session began on July 21. Aside from a limited debate on Operation Sindoor, little progress has been made on other fronts.
The protesters argue that electoral “clean‑ups” need open discussion, not unilateral deletions.
