New Delhi: On the first day of the winter session, the Union government told the Rajya Sabha that it is not “averse to a discussion” on any issues, including on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls which is underway in 12 states and union territories. However, opposition parties said that while they are not demanding a timeline, there is a “trust deficit” after the monsoon session was washed out over a stalemate on the issue.Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Monday (December 1) afternoon, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said that the matter was under the government’s consideration.“Nobody is undermining any matter brought up by opposition parties in yesterday’s all-party meeting and the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. It is under the consideration of the government,” said Rijiju.“If you put a condition that it has to be taken up today itself then it becomes difficult. I only said there are other members who raised other issues as well. Other than 12 opposition parties there are other political parties who represent different states. You can put forward your demand but cannot reject other demands. However, I am stating again the matter whether you call it SIR or electoral reform, I have said before the session that the government is not averse to taking up discussion on anything,” he said.“Yesterday, you said you are not opposed to how it is named. I am not opposed to it. Only thing I am saying is that please give some time while there are other listed business can be taken up. The demand you have put forward has not been rejected,” Rijiju added.Earlier in the session, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said that while the opposition has not asked for a timeline from the government, and not insisted on how the discussion should be named, there was a trust deficit.“We referred a proposal to the government that let us get into a discussion an urgent discussion on SIR, or electoral reform, whatever they want to call it. Let us have a fruitful discussion on this and let the house run,” he said.O’Brien said that the opposition had agreed that the discussion can be held in any wording on electoral reform. “The government was supposed to come back to us. The last session was washed out. There is a trust deficit. We want the parliament to run. Why doesn’t the government want a discussion when everybody here wants a discussion. The problem is not a timeline. The problem is a trust deficit.”Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that a collective decision had been taken by all opposition parties to have a discussion on the SIR, amid the rising number of BLO deaths across the country.“It’s not just a decision of one party or multiple parties; it’s the decision of all Opposition floor leaders. In the morning, we met at my chambers and discussed that we should take the SIR matter first, otherwise we all will have to protest,” Kharge said.“My request to you is to allow us to discuss SIR. It’s a very important issue, as so many people are dying. But throughout the country, they want to kill democracy,” he added.Meanwhile, Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan said that the opposition benches should wait for the government to come back with a time, as the demand has not been rejected.Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas said that the entire opposition is united in the demand for a discussion and that Rijiju should uphold his own statement.“Let him (Rijiju) uphold the statement that he made. He said that the government is ready to discuss electoral reforms. We are saying by all means let that be the topic of discussion. We are in agreement. There is no division among opposition parties. We are united. Let him coin the topic in any manner under any rule,” he said.Rijiju said that the opposition members should not place conditions on a timeline and the government will revert “as soon as possible.”