Amit Shah Critiques Rahul Gandhi Amid Ongoing Electoral Protests

Amit Shah, India’s Union Home Minister, has expressed strong criticism towards Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party leader, in response to ongoing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Shah warned that the Congress party is likely to face a severe defeat in the upcoming 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

This marks Shah’s first public commentary regarding the protests which demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the end of SIR. He accused the Congress of engaging in negative politics and suggested that its leadership should reflect on their approach instead of indulging in what he termed as fabricated media narratives.

Shah asserted, "The people of this country are with Narendra Modi ji, with the BJP, with the NDA. You cannot deny this truth," amplifying his belief that the National Democratic Alliance will return to power with a decisive majority in 2029. He further alleged that Gandhi and his supporters are attempting to register illegal infiltrators as voters, questioning whether the Congress’s struggles in elections can be linked to the SIR initiative, which commenced after the 2024 elections.

Criticism from Shah comes in the context of various protests from opposition parties claiming ‘vote theft’ and demanding the withdrawal of SIR. Recently, leaders from the INDIA bloc orchestrated a “March for Democracy” in central Delhi, where several prominent political figures participated alongside activists and civil society members. The protest was led by Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and was attended by leaders from various parties including the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress.

After the protest, Gandhi hosted a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to addressing issues surrounding electoral integrity. Despite this mobilisation, Shah dismissed the protests, asserting that the participation of roughly 8,000 individuals from 14 parties across a 1.5-kilometre stretch does not equate to Gandhi being the representative voice of the nation.

Shah highlighted recent electoral results from bypolls and local body elections to support his stance, noting that the Congress party failed to secure any seats in recent bypolls held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, while the BJP performed strongly in various regions, including local body elections in Gujarat. He cited that the BJP clinched 90 of 104 seats across three civic bodies and won the majority of seats in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.

Furthermore, Shah pointed to the Congress party's historical performance in Gujarat, stating that they have not won any elections in the state since 1985. By pointing to these results, Shah contended that the BJP's successes are indicative of widespread public support rather than issues related to the electoral rolls or SIR.

He challenged Gandhi to provide clarity on why the Congress has repeatedly faced electoral defeats, further reinforcing his portrayal of a supportive electorate behind Bharat Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah's statements reflect an ongoing political tussle as the country approaches the next general elections, emphasising the significance of voter sentiment and party strategies in shaping the future electoral map of India.