Lok Sabha Erupts as Amit Shah Flags Court Notice to Sonia Gandhi During Election Reforms Debate

December 10, 2025

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha witnessed intense chaos on Wednesday as Home Minister Amit Shah cited a recent Delhi court notice issued to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi concerning allegations that her name was fraudulently added to the voters’ list three years before she acquired Indian citizenship in 1983.

Shah, intervening during a heated debate on electoral reforms, stated that the court had directed Sonia Gandhi and the Delhi Police to respond to a criminal revision petition.

He said his remarks were based on “factual developments,” aimed at highlighting the need for electoral transparency amid opposition attacks calling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise an act of “vote chori”.

Congress Accuses Shah of Misleading the House

The comment triggered an immediate protest from Congress MPs. KC Venugopal, invoking Rule 352, accused the Home Minister of distorting facts, stating that the Rouse Avenue Court had already dismissed the case for lack of substance.
“Sonia Gandhi has not even voted… Can you prove it?” Venugopal challenged, calling Shah’s remarks “misleading, defamatory and diversionary.” Treasury benches countered sharply, urging Congress to present evidence that Gandhi did not vote before 1983, while insisting the matter carried significant public interest.

Opposition Charges NDA With Deflecting From SIR Controversy

Shah maintained that he had not passed judgment but merely referred to an ongoing legal process, stressing his commitment to “transparency in voter lists.” Opposition leaders, however, accused the government of resurrecting old allegations to avoid answering concerns about SIR, which they claim disproportionately removes names of Dalits, migrants, and tribal communities.

Chaos Continues as Speaker Struggles for Order

Speaker Om Birla faced difficulty restoring discipline as members exchanged heated accusations. Shah also criticised the opposition for stalling discussions, asserting that BJP and NDA “never shy away from debates.” He defended SIR as an independent Election Commission mechanism, essential for strengthening the credibility of Indian elections.