The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Tuesday (March 11, 2025) following protests over delimitation and EPIC issues.
| Photo Credit: ANI
While the Opposition continues with its demand to have a debate on alleged duplication of Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers and delimitation, the Parliament in the coming days is scheduled to discuss the functioning of the Home Ministry in the Rajya Sabha and Agriculture Ministry in the Lok Sabha.
The government is yet to give any assurance to the Opposition on scheduling deliberations on EPIC numbers and delimitation. A senior Opposition leader, while pointing out that they had not disrupted the functioning of the Parliament, hoping the government will provide them space to deliberate on their concerns about the two “pertinent” issues, said: “They can decide the rule and the mechanism for the discussion, as long as they schedule it.”
As per the schedule fixed so far, the Lok Sabha will be discussing functioning of three Ministries— Jal shakti, Railways and Agriculture. Discussions on two more Ministries had been scheduled.
According to sources, the Opposition would want to debate External Affairs or Defence, aimed at bringing a clearer understanding of the Indo-China standoff and the tariff rates declared by the Trump administration in the U.S.. But the government was yet to clarify whether any of the two subjects will be allowed or if a third subject will be introduced.
In Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to reply to the inconclusive debate on the Ministry on Monday (March 17, 2025) and it will be followed by a discussion on the Manipur Budget and other Appropriation Bills. On Tuesday (March 18, 2025), the Upper House will discuss the functioning of the Ministry of Health followed by a debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).
Published – March 16, 2025 08:59 pm IST
