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Shah said the Opposition has replaced debate with invective, even dragging PM Modi’s late mother into politics, and urged citizens to respond at the ballot box
Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi. (Image: News18)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday issued a sharp rebuke to Opposition leaders who have dragged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late mother into political attacks, saying such conduct corrodes democratic values and must be answered at the ballot box by voters.
In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Shah said that while it is the Opposition’s duty to expose corruption, the lack of evidence against Modi has pushed rivals towards personal abuse. “If any person engages in corrupt conduct, that is not a private matter; it is a public matter, and it is the duty of the Opposition to expose corruption,” he said. “But because they cannot find corruption, they resort to baseless talk, abusive words, and even making remarks about PM Modi’s mother.”
Calling such comments beyond the pale, Shah appealed directly to the electorate: “Such people should indeed be punished in elections.”
‘A Termite In Democracy’
The Home Minister described this descent into personal attacks as “low-level politics” that eats away at democracy’s foundations. “Such low-level politics is like a termite in democracy, it eats away at the very roots,” he remarked, adding that the country’s political culture should be anchored in principles and policy, not invective.
‘Parliament Is The Biggest Panchayat’
Shah said the contrast was stark when it came to Parliament, which he called India’s “biggest panchayat.” He stressed that the legislature was meant to host debate on issues of national interest, but opposition MPs had chosen disruption instead. “From the very first day, they try to disrupt Parliament — even when Vande Mataram is being chanted — and then claim they were not allowed to speak. They walk out despite being given time by the Speaker, use their interventions for political jibes instead of debate, and repeatedly flout the rules of the House. Parliament cannot function in a freestyle manner,” he said.
Shah recalled that parliamentary discipline had been respected since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and said PM Modi himself has always upheld “parliamentary purity and discipline.” He urged citizens to decide whether Parliament’s time should be wasted on “political theatrics” or used for discussions on security, employment, prosperity, industry and welfare of the poor.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE
‘We Conducted Ourselves Differently’
Comparing today’s Opposition to the BJP’s own years outside power, Shah said his party would register protests but ultimately engage in debate, and if needed, approach the courts. “In many cases, the courts did set up inquiries based on our appeals. Today’s Opposition doesn’t want to debate in constitutional forums. They want to remain on the streets, and I suppose that is why the people have kept them on the streets,” he added.
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
September 19, 2025, 21:45 IST
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