SIR debate: Rahul Gandhi challenges Modi after Shah offers Parliament discussion

The SIR debate intensified on Monday as Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a public discussion, after Home Minister Amit Shah offered a special Parliament session. Their exchanges followed an opposition rally in Delhi over alleged electoral irregularities.

Speaking during a BJP march in Hyderabad, Shah challenged Gandhi to discuss electronic voting machines, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and allegations of vote theft in Parliament. He said the government was prepared to convene a special session.

Gandhi separately used a social media post to accuse Modi of benefiting from foreign support and challenged him to debate at any time and venue. Those statements were allegations by the Congress leader, rather than established findings.

Opposition and government dispute electoral revision

The SIR debate follows the November 1 gathering at Ramlila Maidan, where leaders from 21 opposition parties demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. They alleged that large numbers of eligible voters had been removed from the rolls.

The Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of wrongdoing. The commission says the revision is designed to update voter lists and remove duplicate or ineligible entries.

Shah accused opposition parties of trying to obstruct the exercise to protect illegal immigrants. He also rejected Gandhi's claim about the scale of voter deletions; those competing assertions remain part of the political dispute.

Modi, speaking at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat on Monday, accused unnamed forces of seeking to divide India and spreading rumours through social media. He also questioned their alleged foreign links.

The Prime Minister criticised the opposition for obstructing development rather than limiting itself to scrutiny of government policy. Gandhi's subsequent challenge responded to those remarks, while Shah's proposal placed a parliamentary discussion at the centre of the exchange.

Also read: SIR deadlines extended: Delhi final roll due December 22 | Rahul Gandhi rally: Delhi traders seek postponement or venue change