LIVE | Winter Session Day 2: Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon amid Opposition protest over SIR issue
The second day of the Winter Session began on a tumultuous note as Opposition MPs continued their protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon as Opposition MPs refused to relent in pressing for a discussion on SIR. Following the adjournment, LS Speaker Om Birla called Opposition floor leaders and ministers for consultations to resolve the issue. Ahead of the day's proceedings INDIA bloc MPs staged a demonstration outside Parliaments Makar Dwar at 10:30 am. This comes a day after the Winter Session opened to disruptions, with the Lok Sabha repeatedly adjourned and the Opposition walking out of the Rajya Sabha over demands for an immediate debate on the SIR exercise, which is underway in 12 states and union territories. The government said it was open to a discussion but would not commit to a timeline. On Day 2, the Centre is set to move the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will seek to amend the Central Excise Act to raise excise duties and cesses on tobacco products. Congress moves adjournment notice on Sanchar Saathi app issue Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has filed an adjournment motion notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of business to discuss the government's directions on installation of the Sanchar Saathi App in new mobile handsets. The Congress has criticised the directions of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app in new mobile handsets as unconstitutional, and demanded its immediate rollback. The party MP has demanded a discussion under Rule 267 which calls for setting aside all other business to take up the matter. In her adjournment notice, the party MP said, The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic facet of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Department of Telecommunications' circular directing smartphone manufacturers and importers to pre-load the Sanchar Saathi application in a manner that cannot be deleted constitutes a grave affront to this fundamental right. Such a mandate enables pervasive surveillance and threatens to place every movement, interaction, and decision of citizens under constant watch, without adequate safeguards or parliamentary oversight, Chowdhury said. I, therefore, demand an adjournment of all business of the House to take up an urgent discussion on this critical issue affecting the rights and liberties of our citizens, she said in her notice. Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon amid Opposition stir In the Lok Sabha, proceedings quickly turned turbulent as Opposition MPs entered the Well, raising slogans and demanding a debate on the SIR exercise. Amid repeated sloganeering and disruptions, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12 noon after Opposition MPs refused to relent in pressing for a discussion. After the Lok Sabha was adjourned, the Speaker called Opposition floor leaders and ministers for consultations to resolve the issue. LS, RS open to tense scenes as Opposition amps up pressure over SIR Both Houses had a tense start on Tuesday as Opposition MPs launched protests, increasing pressure on the government to allow a debate on the ongoing SIR exercise in 12 states and Union Territories. In the Lok Sabha, proceedings quickly grew turbulent as Opposition MPs entered the Well, raising slogans and demanding that the House take up a debate on the issue. Opposition MPs protest over SIR before House convenes Several opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday staged a protest in the Parliament House complex against the SIR and demanded a discussion on electoral reforms. The leaders held posters and placards against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. They also had a huge banner which read 'Stop SIR-Stop Vote Chori' and raised slogans against the government. Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, DMK's K Kanhimozhi, and TR Baalu were among the opposition leaders protesting in front of Parliament's Makar Dwar. VIDEO | Parliament winter session 2025: Opposition leaders stage a protest inside Parliament premises over the issue of SIR. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz ) pic.twitter.com/8IpLBwx3DQ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 2, 2025 The second day of the Winter Session began on a tumultuous note as Opposition MPs continued their protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. INDIA bloc MPs staged a demonstration outside Parliaments Makar Dwar at 10:30 am ahead of the days proceedings. This comes a day after the Winter Session opened to disruptions, with the Lok Sabha repeatedly adjourned and the Opposition walking out of the Rajya Sabha over demands for an immediate debate on the SIR exercise, which is underway in 12 states and union territories. The government said it was open to a discussion but would not commit to a timeline. On Day 2, the Centre is set to move the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will seek to amend the Central Excise Act to raise excise duties and cesses on tobacco products. Day 1 recap: SIR row fuels protests, walkout On Tuesday, the Winter Session opened to disruptions, with the Lok Sabha repeatedly adjourned and the Opposition staging a walkout in the Rajya Sabha over demands for an immediate debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The government maintained it was open to a discussion but refused to commit to a timeline. Ahead of the sitting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Opposition of turning Parliament into a warm up arena for elections or an outlet to vent out frustration after defeat, adding that he was willing to offer tips to bring positivity in politics. He said Parliament was meant for delivery, not drama. In the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced two bills to repurpose levies on tobacco, pan masala and other sin goods, ahead of the phaseout of the GST compensation cess. Persistent opposition protests over SIR forced two adjournments, with Speaker Om Birla warning MPs against lowering the dignity of the House. The House later passed the Manipur GST Bill, replacing an ordinance implementing GST 2.0 reforms in the state. In the Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was not averse to discussing SIR or electoral reforms but urged the Opposition not to insist on an immediate debate or a fixed schedule. Unhappy with the response, members of several parties walked out. Rijiju sought more time to reply to demands for discussion on the ongoing SIR exercise in nine states and three Union Territories.