In a recent post pinned to his X account, the Congress MP shared two short video clips of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. One is from last year, while the other is from Thursday. The two clips feature contrasting statements by Shah on whether the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can be discussed in Parliament.
In the clip dated December 5 last year, Amit Shah is heard saying, "My firm opinion is that SIR cannot be discussed in this House. If it is discussed and some questions are raised, who will answer them?"
In the second clip, recorded on Thursday, Shah says, "You challenge Modi to a debate, Rahul ji, Modi ji is not needed. We are ready to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss SIR."
Reacting to the two statements, Rahul Gandhi said, "I am confused."
Prahlad Joshi Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Sharing Edited Video
Defending the BJP's position, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi accused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha of circulating an edited video of Amit Shah that had been taken out of context.
He said, "The cut and out-of-context video of Home Minister Amit Shah shows only one thing: Rahul Gandhi has done absolutely no homework on the subject of SIR."
However, Amit Shah's remarks in Parliament in December last year appear to correspond with the statement highlighted in Gandhi's post.
At the time, the Home Minister had said, "My firm opinion is that SIR cannot be discussed in this House because the work of SIR is being carried out by the Election Commission of India. The Election Commission of India and the Chief Election Commissioner do not work under the government. If this is discussed and some questions are raised, who will answer them? When they said they were ready to discuss electoral reforms, we immediately agreed, and today the discussion is actually focused on electoral reforms."
His remarks appeared to draw a clear distinction between a discussion on electoral reforms and one specifically concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
‘Questions Are Raised About the Process After Losing Elections’
Joshi maintained that the video clip shared by Rahul Gandhi on X had been edited. Meanwhile, during November this year, the Home Minister indicated that the government was prepared to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss SIR.
The Union Minister also reminded the Congress leader that he had lost three consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019 and 2024, when no SIR exercise had been conducted.
Joshi said, "Rahul ji, the confusion is clearly yours, not ours! When you win elections, the electoral process seems right to you, but when you lose, suddenly the same process comes under question. Is this your understanding of democracy? You lost the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019 and 2024 even when no SIR was conducted. Will you take responsibility for those defeats or blame something else?"
He further accused Gandhi of engaging in political theatrics and challenged him to present his arguments in Parliament with facts.
Joshi said, "And now that Home Minister Amit Shah has openly challenged you to discuss SIR in Parliament and has also proposed a special session, what is the hesitation? Rahul ji, enough of this political drama. Bring your arguments to Parliament and debate with facts."
The exchange has brought the disagreement over the scope of parliamentary discussion on electoral roll revisions into focus, with Rahul Gandhi questioning Amit Shah's contrasting statements and the BJP demanding that the Congress leader take up the issue in Parliament.
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