New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi amid the ongoing political controversy over allegations of “vote theft” and electoral irregularities.

Addressing an event in Delhi on Thursday, October 22, Shah took a dig at Gandhi over his reported visit to Vietnam and asserted that the Congress would not return to power for the next 30 years.

“I know you cannot hear my voice because you are sitting somewhere abroad,” Shah remarked, adding that Gandhi should listen to his message after returning to Delhi. He also said that Gandhi’s foreign travel was a personal matter.

Amit Shah Questions Opposition’s Vote Theft Allegations

Shah criticised the Congress and other opposition parties for questioning the Election Commission of India after electoral defeats. He argued that the opposition accepted the electoral process when it won elections but raised concerns when it lost.

The Home Minister also referred to the Congress’s electoral performance across several states, arguing that its difficulties in winning elections predated the BJP’s rise to power at the Centre.

The remarks come amid protests by opposition parties over alleged electoral irregularities, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns raised against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Congress, meanwhile, has defended Rahul Gandhi’s overseas trip, maintaining that he is entitled to personal time and travel.

₹8,941-Crore Push to Rejuvenate the Yamuna

Shah’s remarks came during an event marking the launch and foundation-stone laying of Delhi Jal Board projects worth approximately ₹8,941 crore aimed at improving Delhi’s water and sewerage infrastructure and rejuvenating the Yamuna River.

The projects include sewage treatment facilities, new sewer lines and improvements to the city’s water infrastructure. The initiative is intended to reduce untreated sewage entering the river and improve water quality.

Shah also criticised the previous governments led by the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress over their handling of Yamuna pollution, alleging that they had failed to adequately address the problem during their time in power.

He said the government was committed to cleaning the river through coordinated efforts and infrastructure development.

The event combined the launch of major water and sewerage projects with a broader political exchange over electoral accountability, opposition allegations and the performance of previous governments.