New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday escalated his criticism of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming the minister failed to answer “a single direct question” during the heated election reform debate in the Lok Sabha a day earlier.
Gandhi alleged Shah appeared “nervous” during his address. “Amit Shah ji was very nervous yesterday. His language was off, his hands were trembling… he is under tremendous mental pressure,” Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament. “I challenged him to come to the floor and discuss every point I raised in my press conferences. I got no answer, no proof, nothing.”
Congress MP Tanuj Punia echoed the charge, saying the Home Minister sidestepped key questions, particularly those related to Haryana. “The transparency that should have been there was missing. Instead of addressing the real issues, he targeted the Congress. We received no answers on what is happening today,” Punia said.
The BJP countered sharply, accusing Gandhi of resorting to a “hit-and-run” strategy. Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Gandhi routinely walked out when confronted with facts. “This is his democracy. When the Prime Minister or the Home Minister speaks, he leaves. He couldn’t bear the truth yesterday,” Singh said, adding that Shah’s speech had left the “entire Nehru family in disarray.”
Tensions in the House spiked on Wednesday when Gandhi and Shah clashed over allegations of “vote chori.” Gandhi repeatedly pressed Shah to debate claims of irregularities in voter lists, while Shah insisted Parliament “will not run at his whim” and said he would respond in order.
Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Shah called it a routine but essential exercise to “sanitise” voter lists. He accused the Opposition of praising the Election Commission only when favourable outcomes followed. The confrontation led to a walkout by Opposition MPs during Shah’s reply, forcing an adjournment of the House.
