Opposition MPs walk out of Rajya Sabha after refusal to discuss duplicate EPIC issue

New Delhi: Opposition MPs on Monday walked out of Rajya Sabha after their demand for an immediate discussion on the issue of multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) bearing identical numbers was rejected.

As soon as Deputy Chairman Harivansh announced that 16 notices seeking suspension of business to discuss various issues were rejected, the Opposition MPs were on their feet with Congress and Trinamool Congress demanding immediate debate on EPIC. They were joined by other parties, including Samajwadi Party, DMK, AAP, RJD, CPI(M), CPI and others.

Harivansh said notices were received from Trinamool Congress' Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Mausam Noor and Sushmita Dev and Congress' Pramod Tiwari seeking a discussion on the alleged lapses of the Election Commission on the issue of multiple voter cards having identical numbers.

DMK's P Wilson and CPI(M)'s P Sivadasan submitted notices on concerns over delimitation while CPI's Sandosh Kumar wanted a discussion on the impact of Airtel and Jio joining hands with Elon Musk's Starlink, AAP's Sanjay Singh on increasing crimes and deteriorating law and order in Delhi and Muslim League's Haris Beeran on drug addiction among students in Kerala. 

BJP's Samik Bhattacharya submitted a notice seeking discussion on alleged atrocities on OBCs and other communities in West Bengal.

Harivansh rejected all notices even as a section of MPs demanded that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak in the House on EPIC issue. The Deputy Chairman said he cannot allow anyone to raise the issue on which the notice was rejected.

This prompted Kharge to announce a walkout, following which almost all Opposition MPs walked out. In Lok Sabha too, Opposition MPs had given notices on the EPIC issue but were rejected.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien posted on X, "Parliament gets back to work after a four day break. A constructive Opposition wants to debate an issue that is at the core of democracy. Is the Government ready?"