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Amit Shah's Challenge to Rahul Gandhi Over SIR Row (Img: Pinterest)
Karnal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take the political confrontation over electoral roll revisions to Parliament, urging him to present his allegations and arguments on the floor of the House rather than through street protests.
Addressing a rally in Karnal, Haryana, Shah also accused the Congress of disrupting parliamentary proceedings and turning boycotts into a political strategy. He warned that the BJP would respond to the opposition's political activities wherever they took place.
Taking aim at the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shah said that Parliament was the appropriate platform for discussing important political and constitutional issues.
He challenged Gandhi to participate in a debate, adding that the Congress leader should be prepared to hear the government's response.
"If you wish to engage in a responsible discussion, if your concerns hold truth, substance and logic, then come and discuss them inside Parliament," Shah said.
He further claimed that Gandhi would struggle to respond to the government's arguments and accused him of avoiding meaningful discussions in the House.
Shah also criticised the Congress over repeated disruptions in Parliament, alleging that the party had made protests and boycotts part of its political approach.
He said the BJP would counter the Congress wherever it chose to raise its concerns, including Parliament, state assemblies and public gatherings.
The remarks came as the BJP concluded the first phase of its 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) campaign, which began on October 22 and continued until November 5.
Shah's comments came a day after Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in an open debate. Gandhi had claimed that he could establish his allegations against the prime minister within five minutes.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also sought answers from the prime minister over allegations of electoral irregularities.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to Gandhi's challenge, said Parliament was the appropriate forum for such discussions. She also questioned the opposition's participation in parliamentary proceedings, stating that demanding answers also meant being willing to hear the responses.
Shah attended the Karnal rally alongside Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and BJP leader Smriti Irani.
The BJP's second phase of the campaign is scheduled to run from November 11 to November 30.
