Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 11: A day after the Lok Sabha witnessed an intense debate over election reforms, Rahul Gandhi levelled sharp accusations against Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming the minister appeared visibly unsettled during the proceedings. Gandhi alleged that Shah “looked nervous,” “used inappropriate language,” and even had “trembling hands” while responding to the Opposition on Wednesday.
The debate had escalated when Gandhi openly challenged Shah to a face-to-face discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), prompting Shah to assert that he would determine the sequence of his own speech. The atmosphere grew more charged as Shah rebutted accusations of “vote theft” and addressed Gandhi’s remarks about alleged multiple entries on a voter list in Haryana, leading the Congress leader to rise and interrupt the minister mid-speech.
Speaking outside Parliament the following day, Gandhi said that Shah had failed to give direct answers or evidence to his questions. He reiterated his demand for an open debate, claiming that the Home Minister was under significant pressure and avoided engaging with the issues he raised.
Inside the House, Shah delivered a forceful counterattack, dismissing the allegations as groundless and reminding the Opposition that controversies around electoral irregularities predate the current government, reaching back to the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He issued a stark warning that parties resisting the Simultaneous Elections Bill risk political marginalisation in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, asserting that continued opposition from the Trinamool Congress would only strengthen the BJP’s prospects.
Shah accused Opposition leaders of spreading misinformation about the SIR and questioned whether democracy could remain secure if national and state leadership were influenced by what he termed “infiltrators.” He argued that attempts to attack the government through the SIR debate were ultimately harming the credibility of India’s democratic institutions.
He also criticised what he described as a growing tendency among Opposition parties to undermine the Election Commission and the electoral rolls when electoral outcomes don’t favour them — a trend he said endangers the integrity of the democratic process. Shah contrasted this with the BJP’s stance, asserting that even in defeat, his party has never cast doubt on the Election Commission.