Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha today amid heated discussions on electoral reforms and the Special Investigative Report (SIR). Shah emphasized that SIR, aimed at cleaning up electoral rolls, is under the Election Commission’s jurisdiction and cannot be debated in Parliament.
Upon being interrupted by Rahul Gandhi during the debate, Amit Shah said, “I will decide the chronology of my speech. Rahul Gandhi should have the patience to listen, because I will speak when I choose and address the issues in order.”
Fiery exchanges were witnessed in the Lok Sabha with Shah and Gandhi trading barbs.
“I had asked a question yesterday. For the first time in India’s history, decision was taken that election commissioners will be given full immunity. He (Shah) must tell us the thinking behind this. He talked of Haryana, he gave one example but there are numerous examples (of vote chori),” Gandhi said. “Let us have a debate on my press conference. Amit Shah ji, I challenge you to have a debate on the three press conferences,” the Congress leader said.
SIR Controversy and Electoral Integrity
Shah accused the Opposition of double standards in evaluating the Election Commission. “When you win elections, EC is great; when you lose, EC is incompetent, such double standards will not work,” he said. He added, “BJP lost elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, then poll rolls were good, but when we win elections everything is bad.”
He explained that SIR is an exercise to remove names of deceased individuals and foreign nationals from electoral rolls, ensuring purity and integrity.
Opposition Concerns and Government Clarification
Shah responded to Opposition concerns about irregularities in the electoral rolls, saying, “Leader of Opposition flagged irregularities in electoral rolls, SIR is an exercise to have pure electoral rolls.” He added, “Opposition worried as people of country do not vote for them and SIR will delete names of illegal immigrants who back them.”
“…I am very clear that there cannot be a discussion on SIR in this House. SIR is the responsibility of the Election Commission. India’s EC and CEC do not work under the Government…” Shah noted, reiterating that the BJP’s refusal to debate SIR was to respect the independent functioning of the Election Commission and avoid miscommunication.