Shah counters Gandhi over SIR, predicts BJP sweep in 2029 polls

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp counterattack against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Staged Interim Relief (SIR) policy, claiming Gandhi was using the issue as a pretext to shield infiltrators from action.

Addressing a political gathering, Shah alleged that Gandhi's focus on SIR masked an ulterior motive to protect those involved in illegal border crossings. The Home Minister emphasized the government's commitment to tackling infiltration while dismissing what he characterized as the opposition's obstructionist stance on national security matters.

Shah also sought to undermine Gandhi's recurring criticism of electronic voting machines (EVMs), citing recent local body elections conducted using ballot papers. "The BJP has won decisively in municipal and local elections held through ballot papers, which proves our popularity transcends the EVM debate," Shah stated.

Projecting confidence ahead of the 2029 general elections, Shah predicted a decisive victory for the BJP, asserting the party would expand its electoral footprint across the country. He urged voters to prepare for what he described as an impending "comprehensive defeat" for opposition parties in the next national polls.