India, Dec. 2 -- Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday pushed back against the Opposition's demand for an immediate debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the government is open to discussions but will not work under fixed timelines.

His remarks came after a heated start to the Winter Session in the Parliament, with the Opposition pressing for urgent deliberations on the controversial exercise that has triggered protests inside both Houses.

On Tuesday, Opposition parties staged a walk out from Rajya Sabha demanding that the SIR debate be taken up as the House's top priority, "people are dying because of SIR," TMC leader Derek O'Brien said. But the parliamentary affairs minister maintai...