First Vande Mataram, then SIR debate, says Centre, as Opposition continues protests in RS

As the Opposition continued to disrupt the Rajya Sabha for a second straight day on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) with demands for an immediate discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, citing the recent suicides of booth level officers, the Union government insisted that a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram would come first.

The Centre maintained that it is not averse to a discussion on the SIR, but said the Opposition cannot insist on a date. After a morning adjournment, Opposition MPs staged a walkout in the afternoon, raising slogans, saying “SIR par charcha ho (there should be a debate on SIR).”

Within an hour of convening on Tuesday morning, proceedings in the Upper House were adjourned till 2 p.m. following protests against the SIR by Opposition parties. As soon as the laying of papers concluded, Opposition MPs trooped into the well of the House, raising slogans and demanding a discussion on the voter list revision exercise.

‘Not appropriate’

The protests escalated after Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan rejected 20 notices under Rule 267 on five different subjects, stating they did not meet the procedural requirements. He did not read out the subjects of these motions which the Opposition flagged. As the Zero Hour proceeded amid the commotion, the Chair adjourned the proceedings till 2 p.m. Amidst the din, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj K. Jha made a zero hour submission that the Preamble of the Constitution and a summary of B.R. Ambedkar’s essay titled, Annihilation of Caste, should be read out in school assemblies.

In the afternoon, as soon as the Rajya Sabha met at 2 p.m., Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien again raised the matter of an SIR debate. In his response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Business Advisory Committee has decided to discuss the 150 years of Vande Mataram and this should precede the debate on “electoral reforms”.

“Vande Mataram is a matter related to our freedom struggle. Matters related to electoral reforms are also extremely important. There may be many more issues that parties would like to raise in the House. However, considering that Opposition parties have united to raise one issue, the government is ready to take up a discussion but to have it before discussion on Vande Mataram may not be appropriate,” he said.

Priority issue

Mr. O’Brien said more than 14 Opposition parties want an urgent discussion as people are dying because of the SIR. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge added that notices under Rule 267 were given as the matter deserves the immediate attention of Parliament. “We have demanded for discussion under Rule 267… What the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, whatever the agenda is, it should get priority. Rule 267 says all other issues should be kept aside and first preference should be given… Otherwise, there is no reason to give Rule 267 notice… Keeping aside all other businesses, the House should take up Rule 267 discussion on SIR,” Mr. Kharge said. He added that Vande Mataram had anyway come from the Congress, and not from the BJP.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas said the SIR debate should be taken up on Wednesday, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Tiruchi Siva too said the situation demands the urgent attention of the House.