Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 31: The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he performed a “miracle” in the Lok Sabha by delivering a 90-minute speech without using what it called his “favourite term of abuse.”

The remark came a day after Shah told the Lok Sabha that India is now largely free of Naxalism, claiming that the Maoist leadership and organisational structure have been significantly weakened. He also accused the Congress of failing to take effective steps against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) during its tenure.

Responding to Shah’s comments, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Home Minister spoke for 90 minutes without using a term that had earlier been expunged from parliamentary records, calling it a “miracle.”

The political exchange followed a heated debate in the Lok Sabha on efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism, during which Opposition members protested strongly over Shah’s remarks targeting Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

Shah also alleged that the Congress had previously shown sympathy towards Maoist-linked individuals and referred to historical political contexts linked to the rise of Naxal violence in parts of India.

The debate took place ahead of Shah’s earlier deadline target to eliminate Naxal violence in the country by March 31, 2026, under the government’s ongoing anti-insurgency operations.

Opposition members staged protests in the House, demanding an apology for remarks they termed “offensive.”