Shah was responding to Opposition allegations regarding the Election Commission’s functioning when continuous interruptions from members prompted him to rebuke them. At one point, an angry Shah pointed towards the Opposition benches and said he would determine the order of his speech, asserting that their “juristic behaviour” would not dictate proceedings. “I have been a public representative for 30 years. Your activism will not work in Parliament,” he said.
The confrontation deepened when Shah, addressing accusations over EVM credibility, remarked that the Election Commission repeatedly clarified that nothing was amiss. In the heat of the moment, he used an unparliamentary word, leading to loud protests from Opposition MPs. Rijiju promptly intervened, assuring the House that the remark would be removed from the record.
Shah also accused the Opposition of raising objections whenever the BJP secures electoral victories. He noted that the Congress itself introduced EVMs during earlier trials in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, yet repeatedly questioned the technology after 2014.
In another tense moment, Shah admonished an Opposition MP who interrupted him mid-speech, saying, “When two prominent people are talking, one should not interfere.” The remark drew further reactions across the House but was followed by the minister continuing his speech on electoral processes.
The incident comes at a time when Parliament is witnessing heightened political confrontation over electoral reforms and the Election Commission’s ongoing revision exercise. The House is expected to take up related discussions in upcoming sessions, with both sides preparing for a prolonged debate.
