NEW DELHI, Dec 11 : A heated exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha during a debate on election reforms, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi engaged in a verbal duel. The tension centered around allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) made by Gandhi, who claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was colluding with the Election Commission to manipulate voter lists.

The controversy began when Gandhi challenged Shah to a debate on his claims, which Shah declined to accept. Gandhi asserted that Shah's response was "defensive" and that he was trying to evade questions about alleged electoral malpractices. Shah, however, maintained that Parliament wouldn't function according to Gandhi's wishes and that he would decide the order of his speech.

During the debate, Gandhi questioned the immunity granted to election commissioners, demanding to know the reasoning behind this decision. Shah responded by accusing the Congress party of historical electoral malpractices, citing instances involving Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi. The Home Minister emphasized that the BJP-NDA would not shy away from discussions and that Parliament is the "biggest panchayat for discussions."

The opposition's frustration grew, leading to a walkout during Shah's speech. Gandhi accused Shah of failing to provide clear answers to his questions, while Shah countered that the opposition was trying to delay the proceedings. The Lok Sabha was subsequently adjourned until the next day.

The clash between Gandhi and Shah highlights the deepening rift between the BJP and Congress over electoral reforms. Gandhi has been vocal about allegations of vote manipulation, citing examples of duplicate voter IDs and manipulated voter lists. Shah, on the other hand, has defended the government's stance, emphasizing the need for electoral reforms to ensure the integrity of the electoral process ¹ ?.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government and opposition will work together to address the contentious issues surrounding electoral reforms. The confrontation between Gandhi and Shah has sparked a social media storm, with many taking to Twitter to express their views on the matter ?.