Cong launches web campaign over 'vote loot'

AS the impasse in Parliament shows no sign of abating, Congress whip and Tamil Nadu MP Manickam Tagore has held the Centre responsible for the washout of proceedings, saying their arrogance is preventing them from accepting the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.

- PREETHA NAIR @ New Delhi

Speaking to this newspaper, Tagore said the government is scared to discuss the matter as the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has produced evidence explicating how the BJP government "entered the temple of democracy" through malpractices and manipulation.

While the government says that the functioning of autonomous institutions like the EC cannot be discussed in Parliament, Tagore pointed out several instances in the past decades where both Houses held debates on electoral reforms. "While Rajya Sabha had discussions on electoral reforms in 1970, 1981, 1986, 1991, and 2015, the Lok Sabha discussed it in 1981, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, and 2005," he said.