Amit Shah Challenges Rahul Gandhi to SIR Debate
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to debate allegations of electoral irregularities in a special session of Parliament, saying the government is prepared to convene one. Addressing a BJP gathering in Hyderabad on Monday, November 2, 2026, Shah rejected the INDIA bloc’s allegations of vote theft and accused opposition parties of attempting to obstruct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Amit Shah Offers Special Parliament Session on SIR
Leading the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ padayatra in Hyderabad, Shah challenged Gandhi to debate electronic voting machines (EVMs), electoral roll revisions and alleged illegal infiltration.
He accused the Congress leader of questioning constitutional institutions while disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
Shah also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would decisively counter the Congress’s allegations if a special session were held.
However, no date has been announced for the proposed parliamentary debate.
Shah Questions Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Deletion Claims
Responding to Gandhi’s allegation that approximately 13 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls, Shah defended the revision exercise.
He claimed that millions of entries involved people who had died, relocated or appeared more than once on electoral lists.
Shah further alleged that approximately three crore entries were linked to illegal infiltrators, particularly from Bangladesh. This allegation has not been independently established.
The Home Minister maintained that removing ineligible names was necessary to protect electoral integrity.
INDIA Bloc Rally Draws BJP Criticism
Shah criticised the INDIA bloc’s November 1 demonstration at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, describing it as an attempt to protect alleged infiltrators.
He also questioned why Congress challenged EVM credibility while accepting election victories in states such as Telangana.
The opposition has maintained that its concerns centre on voter exclusions, electoral transparency and the Election Commission’s accountability.
The exchange highlights the continuing political dispute over the SIR exercise, with both sides presenting competing interpretations of its impact on voters.
