Congress discusses Centre’s stance on SIR debate, Vande Mataram anniversary

The parliamentary strategy group of the Congress party met on Sunday (November 30, 2025) to follow up on discussions held earlier with the government at an all-party meeting, and the Lok Sabha’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

At the BAC, the Centre conveyed its intention to have a discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song, the Vande Mataram. Opposition members, however, insisted on first having a debate on undertaking the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across nine States and three Union Territories.

Although the government indicated it was open to discussing electoral reforms on the floor of the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Opposition he would revert by Monday (December 1, 2025) morning.

The Opposition Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is also meeting later on Monday (December 1, 2025) morning at the parliamentary chamber of Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

On Sunday (November 30, 2025) evening, the parliamentary group, including Mr. Kharge and his Lok Sabha counterpart Rahul Gandhi, focused on the government’s position on their demand to have a discussion on conducting the SIR across nine States and three Union Territories.

Mr. Gandhi is said to have flagged the issue of the Bihar election results and alleged “vote chori (theft)”.

The meeting was held at Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s official residence.

Although the Congress will take a united stand on the SIR along with other Opposition parties, sources indicated that they would not relent in allowing the Parliament to function normally unless the government agreed to their demand for a debate on the SIR.

Apart from the discussion on the SIR, the principal Opposition party is also keen on raising the issues of the car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi; the national capital’s air pollution crisis; the situation in Ladakh; and foreign relations, especially with the United States.