Union Home Minister Amit Shah has challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to participate in a parliamentary debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and allegations of illegal infiltration. Shah said the government was prepared to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the issues.
His remarks, made during a BJP march in Hyderabad on November 2, came amid escalating tensions between the ruling party and the Opposition over allegations of electoral irregularities and the INDIA bloc’s recent Vote Bachao rally in Delhi.
Shah Puts Electoral Issues Before Parliament
Addressing party supporters during the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ padayatra, Shah directly challenged Rahul Gandhi to raise questions about SIR and EVMs inside Parliament.
He accused the Congress leader of disrupting parliamentary proceedings while demanding discussions on electoral matters. Shah said the government was willing to hold a special session and asked Gandhi to take part in the debate.
Home Minister Defends the SIR Exercise
Shah strongly defended the voter-list revision exercise, arguing that it was necessary to identify and remove ineligible entries from electoral rolls.
He accused the Congress and its allies of opposing SIR to protect alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. These claims were made by Shah as part of his political attack on the Opposition.
The Congress, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the exercise and demanded greater accountability from the Election Commission.
EVM Allegations Become a Political Flashpoint
The Home Minister also questioned the Congress’s criticism of EVMs. Referring to the party’s electoral victories in states such as Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, he asked why Congress accepted election results when it won but questioned the machines after defeats.
Shah further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would strongly counter the Congress during any parliamentary discussion.
Shah Targets INDIA Bloc’s Delhi Rally
Shah criticised the INDIA bloc’s November 1 gathering at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where opposition leaders raised concerns about alleged vote manipulation, SIR and the Election Commission.
He described the rally as an attempt to defend infiltrators rather than protect democracy. Opposition parties have rejected the government’s position and continued to demand answers over the voter-list revision process.
Electoral Integrity Dispute Intensifies
The exchange between Shah and Gandhi reflects the growing political divide over electoral reforms and the functioning of democratic institutions. The BJP wants the Opposition to discuss its allegations in Parliament, while Congress leaders have demanded action on their concerns before agreeing to the proposed discussion.
Whether a special parliamentary session will actually be convened remains uncertain. However, Shah’s challenge has brought the debate over SIR, EVMs and voter-list transparency back into the centre of national politics.
