Amit Shah Accuses Rahul Gandhi of “Protecting Infiltrators,” Says BJP Will Purge Voter Lists Nationwide

Madhubani: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a fierce political attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of shielding “infiltrators” and vowing that the BJP would eliminate such names from electoral rolls not just in Bihar but across the country. Speaking at a public rally in Madhubani ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Shah claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s campaign was designed to protect those who have illegally entered India.

“Rahul Baba says that infiltrators should be kept in the Bihar voter list. He is taking out an infiltrator-protection yatra to support them,” Shah alleged. “Rahul Baba, take out as many yatras as you want; our BJP’s resolve is to weed out infiltrators from Bihar and the entire country.”

Shah’s statement came in the context of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in Bihar before voting, scheduled for November 6 and 11. The SIR process has sparked intense political debate. The opposition—particularly the Congress and its allies—has accused the BJP and the Bihar administration of manipulating the exercise to delete genuine voters, especially from marginalized communities. Rahul Gandhi also held a “Voter Rights Yatra” across the state, alleging that the SIR was being used as a tool to suppress votes.

The BJP, however, has firmly defended the SIR, insisting that it is essential for identifying and removing the names of what it calls “infiltrators.” The Election Commission has announced similar SIR exercises nationwide, adding to the political tension surrounding the process. Shah used Monday’s rally to reinforce the BJP’s position, framing the issue as a matter of national security and electoral integrity.

Earlier in the day, the Union Home Minister addressed another rally in Sitamarhi, where he launched a broader attack on the Congress over national security. Shah accused the party of failing to act against terrorism during its years in power, contrasting its record with what he described as decisive action under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He cited Operation Sindoor, the surgical strikes, and airstrikes as examples of strong measures taken during the last decade.

“In 11 years, Prime Minister Modi has taken many steps to eliminate terrorism,” Shah said. “When the Congress was in power, terrorist attacks happened every other day, but no strict action was taken. Terrorists were fed biryani.” He added that under PM Modi’s leadership, India has become more secure and prosperous.

Shah also targeted Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks concerning Chhath Puja. Gandhi had alleged in Darbhanga that the BJP staged a “drama” by creating a separate pond for Prime Minister Modi to bathe during Chhath festivities. Shah accused the Congress leader of insulting a revered cultural tradition. “Rahul Gandhi has insulted Chhath Maiya. You can insult Modi as much as you want, but the people of Bihar will never forget this,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s success in combating Naxalism, Shah said that several Bihar districts once affected by Maoist violence are now peaceful. “Earlier, voting used to end at 3 pm because of Naxal threats. Now, for the first time, the entire state will vote until 5 pm because Bihar is Naxal-free,” he claimed.

Bihar’s 243-seat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. As campaigning intensifies, Shah’s statements underscore the BJP’s strategy of blending national security narratives with sharp attacks on the opposition leadership.