Amit Shah: My Position is Earned, Not Granted by Mercy

Synopsis

On March 19, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared in the Rajya Sabha that his position is not due to anyone's mercy but is a result of winning elections seven times. The heated debate with TMC MP Saket Gokhale centered around the CBI's jurisdiction and allegations of corruption.

Key Takeaways

Amit Shah emphasizes his electoral victories as the basis for his position.
The CBI operates independently of the Home Ministry.
Shah defends the integrity of the judicial process regarding CBI cases.
Gokhale's accusations sparked intense debate in the Rajya Sabha.
Calls for an apology highlight the tensions between parties.

New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that he has not attained his position through anyone's mercy, but rather through winning elections seven times.

Shah made these comments during a discussion regarding the operations of the Home Ministry in the Rajya Sabha. The debate became contentious when Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale questioned the role of the CBI. In response, Shah made it clear that the CBI does not operate under the Home Ministry's jurisdiction.

When Gokhale directed a personal attack at him, Shah retorted, saying, “I have not reached here with anyone's mercy or by opposing any ideology. There is no question of being afraid. I have won the elections seven times.”

During this exchange, Shah admonished Gokhale for discussing issues beyond the purview of the Home Ministry. “Perhaps he does not understand that the CBI and other agencies he is referencing do not fall under the Home Ministry. If you want to delve into these topics further, I am more than willing to respond,” Shah stated.

Gokhale accused the CBI of recording 6,900 corruption cases, of which 361 cases have been pending for over 20 years. His comments ignited a commotion in the House, with members from both the ruling party and the opposition exchanging sharp words.

In response to the allegations, Shah explained that the pending CBI cases were initiated by orders from the Supreme Court and the High Court concerning election violence in West Bengal. “Violence occurred during elections in Bengal. We secured more seats, yet our supporters were murdered, and women were assaulted. When victims approached the High Court, a CBI inquiry was mandated,” he elaborated.

Shah accused the Trinamool Congress of ignoring judicial authority. “You will not even heed the High Court. The reason for these delays is the absence of a single CBI special court in West Bengal,” he remarked.

During the heated exchange, Leader of the Upper House J.P. Nadda demanded that Gokhale apologize and retract his personal comments against Shah. “If he does not withdraw his statement, it should be expunged from the records,” Nadda insisted.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar instructed Gokhale to withdraw his comments. Upon Gokhale's refusal, the Chair ordered the remarks to be expunged from the official records.

The ruling party also took issue with other statements made by Gokhale. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized Gokhale's tone, stating, “We are open to suggestions, but such personal attacks diminish the dignity of the Rajya Sabha.”