NEW DELHI: Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav on Wednesday strongly criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in Bihar, calling it a rushed and impractical move by the Election Commission. “This (SIR) has been imposed on us forcefully,” Yadav told ANI. “Election Commission has no practical knowledge. It neither knows the history nor the geography of Bihar. It took 10 days for me to collect all the documents. My son stays in America. How will he do the signatures in just a month?”Demanding more time for the process, Yadav said, “At least six months’ time should have been given for this… I am giving my personal opinion. It doesn’t matter what the party is saying… This is the truth. If I can’t say the truth, why have I become an MP?”Yadav’s comments come amid continued protests by the Opposition, which has stalled proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for three consecutive days, demanding a discussion on the SIR and Operation Sindoor. Congress, Samajwadi Party and other INDIA bloc members staged a protest outside Parliament on Wednesday, holding placards and accusing the government of using the SIR to suppress voters’ rights in Bihar.Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss what he termed a “dangerous and unconstitutional” exercise. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who joined the protest, posted on X that the voter list revision was a “conspiracy to snatch the right to vote granted by the Constitution.” She alleged similar tactics were used in Maharashtra to rig elections.Speaker Om Birla warned protesting MPs that their conduct resembled “street-like behaviour” and said he would be forced to take “decisive action” if order was not restored. Despite his appeals, the House was adjourned till noon as the uproar continued.The Election Commission, in its defence had earlier said the SIR was essential for accurate electoral rolls ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. It revealed that over 18 lakh voters were found deceased, 26 lakh had shifted constituencies, and over 7 lakh were enrolled at multiple locations. A full month—from August 1 to September 1—has been provided for citizens to file objections.In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the ECI claimed all major political parties were involved in the process, with more than 1.5 lakh booth-level agents deployed. The poll body rejected allegations of haste, stating the enumeration period runs from June 25 to July 26, and that the final roll will be published on September 30.
