Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi engaged in a fierce war of words in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, when Shah took the floor to respond to the allegations and criticisms levelled by the Congress and its INDIA bloc alliance partners against the Election Commission’s electoral reforms process.
While the debate was on Rahul Gandhi challenged Amit Shah to an open debate to which the latter responded “I will decide.” As the HM countered the opposition’s allegations of ‘vote chori’ and referred to Rahul Gandhi’s charge of “multiple voters at one Haryana house,” the Congress leader stood up, interrupting the speech.
“My question yesterday was that for the first time in history, full immunity was given to the election commissioner. I wanted to know the reasoning behind this decision. Secondly, about Haryana, the HM took one example of fake voters, but there are 19 lakh fake voters,” Rahul said. “You tell us ... actually, let us have a debate on my Press conference, very good idea, let us go, let us have a debate. Amit Shah ji, I challenge you, I challenge you to have a debate,” Rahul said amidst an uproarious scene in the House as the Parliamentarians of treasury and opposition benches were on their toes to back their topmost leader's claims and statements.
A rattled Home Minister took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and gave a point-by-point rebuttal on ‘vote chori’ charge. Shah said he has been elected as an MLA or MP for the last 30 years and has long experience of the procedures and then responded to Rahul saying “Parliament will not proceed according to your wishes. I will decide the sequence of my speech. The Parliament will not work like this.”
“Speaker, sir, he (Rahul Gandhi) should have some patience to listen to my answer. I will reply to everything. But he will not decide the sequence of my speech, I will decide it,” Shah said to which Rahul once again retorted, terming it a completely defensive response, a scared response.
“I can see worry lines on your face. Do not worry, I will not be provoked by them. I will continue with my reply,” Shah said.