SIR row debate in Lok Sabha: Rahul Gandhi interrupts Amit Shah with 'open challenge'; gets 'I will decide' reply - watch

NEW DELHI: The debate on the Special Investigation Report (SIR) in the Lok Sabha turned heated on Wednesday as leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged home minister Amit Shah to an open debate, prompting a firm response from the minister: "I will decide."As Shah 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, he [Amit Shah] 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," he added."Amit Shah ji, I challenge you, I challenge you to have a debate," Rahul declared in the House.

Amid uproar, Shah responded, "Speaker sir, I want to clarify first, I have been elected as an MLA or MP for the last 30 years. I have a long experience of the procedures."Looking directly at Rahul Gandhi, he said in a stern manner, "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 should have some patience to listen to my answer. I will reply to each and everything. But he will not decide the sequence of my speech, I will decide it," Shah reiterated.

"This is a completely defensive response, a scared response," Rahul retorted.Resuming his address with a noticeably calm tone, Shah told Speaker Om Birla, "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 then went on to address the 'vote chori' accusations, stating that such issues occurred during the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He also referenced a case in the Delhi high court, alleging that Sonia Gandhi became a voter before becoming Indian.