Karnal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hit back at Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's challenge of open debate and invited him to discuss in Parliament. Shah said that if Rahul Gandhi wants to debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list then write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is ready to call a special session of Parliament to discuss this issue. He also said that if Rahul wants to debate on the road, he can choose any intersection in Haryana, where the President of BJP Yuva Morcha will discuss with him.

While addressing the meeting organized at the conclusion of BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' padyatra in Karnal, Haryana on Thursday, Amit Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi. He said that Parliament is the most appropriate forum for discussion in the country and the opposition should present its views on election issues in the House instead of on the streets.

'If you want to debate, write a letter to the Prime Minister'

Addressing Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah said that he is challenging Prime Minister Modi for a debate, but if he really wants to discuss then he should write a letter to the Prime Minister. Shah claimed that the government is ready to call a special session of Parliament to discuss all issues including SIR.

He said that Rahul Gandhi should sit face to face in Parliament and talk on the basis of facts and arguments. Shah alleged that Congress does not allow Parliament to function and instead of discussing important issues, it protests.

Invitation for debate at any intersection in Haryana

Apart from Parliament, Shah also challenged for debate on public platform. He said that if Rahul Gandhi likes to discuss on the streets instead of in the Parliament, then he should choose any intersection of his choice in Haryana. There the National President of BJP Yuva Morcha will debate with him on the issue of SIR.

Through this statement, Shah responded in his own style to the challenge of open debate given by Rahul Gandhi to the Prime Minister. He also accused Congress of spreading confusion among the public regarding political issues.

Attack on Congress regarding SIR and Election Commission

The Home Minister also raised questions on the Congress's demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said that Congress is blaming its electoral defeat on the revision of voter list and the Election Commission.

Referring to the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024, Shah said that Congress had to face defeat in these elections also, although the SIR process was not done at that time. He alleged that the opposition raises questions on EVMs and voter lists after losing the elections.

Giving details of the names removed from the voter list during the SIR, Shah claimed that a large number of names were of deceased voters, people who had shifted to other states and those who had registered at more than one place. He linked the remaining names to alleged infiltrators and asked for their removal from the list. These figures and allegations are the claims presented in the House by the Home Minister.

Questions raised on Rahul Gandhi's foreign tour

Referring to Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Vietnam, Amit Shah asked him to make public the purpose of the visit and the details of the meetings held there. He said that from a person holding an important position like Leader of Opposition, the public expects information about his programs and activities.

Shah also accused the Congress of disrupting Parliament proceedings and agitating on the streets over election issues. He appealed to the BJP workers to take the party's stand to every village and every home.

Many leaders were present in BJP's padyatra

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Smriti Irani and other senior BJP leaders were also present in this program organized in Karnal. The march started from Sector-12 of Karnal and reached Dayanand Chowk, where the meeting was organized.

This statement of Amit Shah has come at a time when political conflict is going on between BJP and the opposition over the SIR process and allegations of deletion of names from the voter list. Now it remains to be seen how Rahul Gandhi reacts to this challenge and whether there is any formal initiative to discuss this issue in the special session of Parliament.