Parliament Monsoon session | Lok Sabha to debate Vande Mataram, 'electoral reforms' next week

The Lok Sabha will be taking up a debate on the 150th anniversary of National Song 'Vande Mataram' next week and on 'electoral reforms' on Tuesday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Tuesday.

An all-party meeting and a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was held earlier where the decision was taken.

"During the All Party Meeting Chaired by Speaker Lok Sabha today, it has been decided to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on 150th Anniversary of National Song 'Vande Mataram' from 12 Noon on Monday 8th December and discussion on Election Reforms from 12 noon on Tuesday 9th December," Rijiju said in a post on X.

The Opposition has agreed to change the terminology from SIR to 'electoral reforms'.

Reacting to the development, Congress leader Manickam Tagore called this a win for I.N.D.I.A. and said that "arrogance finally bows to the unity of 240 &100 MPs."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the debate on 150 years of Vande Mataram.

He said 10 hours each have been allotted to both the debates, adding that time could be extended if the House deems fit.

Kiren Rijiju is learnt to have ruled out a discussion on SIR, contending that it was an administrative matter of the Election Commission and the government had no role in it.

However, the minister was ready for a discussion on a broader subject of electoral reforms as it fell within the government's purview.

The Opposition has been insisting that the government give an assurance on the floor of the House on the discussion on the SIR exercise.