The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he performed a “miracle” in the Lok Sabha by speaking for 90 minutes without using what it called his favourite term of abuse.
The jibe came a day after Shah asserted that the country is now largely free of Naxalism, with the Maoists’ top leadership and central structure nearly dismantled, while accusing the Congress of doing “nothing” to curb the long phase of insurgent violence.
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Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), Shah alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been seen in public with individuals sympathetic to Naxals and had even shared videos perceived as sympathetic to Maoists on his social media.
Responding to the remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Yesterday, the Home Minister accomplished a miracle in the Lok Sabha. He raved and ranted for 90 minutes without once using his favourite word of abuse – which has had to be expunged on previous occasions.”
Congress general secretary also tagged his post on X earlier this month when he had taken a swipe at the Home Minister and said that one of his favourite words uttered again in the Lok Sabha has been expunged. That dig followed a failed Opposition attempt to remove Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker, which was defeated after a heated debate in the Lower House.
Earlier, in December 2025, Shah had drawn sharp criticism for using an abusive word during a tense Lok Sabha debate on the no-confidence motion against the Speaker, prompting him to request the Chair to expunge the term. The incident, which unfolded amid discussions on Naxalism and parliamentary accountability, sparked wider debates over parliamentary decorum and political gaffes.
Responding to the debate, Shah dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claim that he was barred from speaking in the House, asserting that the Congress leader often stayed abroad during sessions and deliberately skipped discussions to avoid speaking.
Opposition members rushed to the Well of the House, raising slogans and protesting as the Home Minister concluded his speech at the end of the two-day debate on the resolution, demanding an apology for remarks they termed “offensive.”
In his Lok Sabha remarks on Monday, Home Minister targeted the Congress, alleging that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had accepted Naxal support during an election in the 1970s in undivided Andhra Pradesh and remained “influenced” by Maoist ideology.
Shah referred to the Red Corridor, spanning Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, saying, “Experts say without the support of those in power, the Red Corridor could not have been created.”
The debate came a day before the deadline Shah had set for the elimination of Naxal violence. Last year, he had announced that Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) would end in the country by March 31, 2026, following a major operation against Naxals.
“The biggest achievement of the Modi government is a Naxal-free India; any researcher will accept this,” he added.
– Ends
Published By:
Shipra Parashar
Published On:
Mar 31, 2026 13:13 IST
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