Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the BJP-led Centre was ready to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the concluding ceremony of Rajyotsav-2026 in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Shah urged the Opposition to allow Parliament to function smoothly and take part in a debate on the issue. “The Centre is ready to discuss the SIR in Parliament. We are ready to convene a special session for it,” he said. Shah accused the Congress of supporting Naxalism, alleging that party leader Rahul Gandhi had backed the Maoists’ unconstitutional “Janatana Sarkar”. He also claimed the Congress had made a mockery of Parliament by recently holding a “mock” Parliament. Recalling 2010, he said then Home Minister P. Chidambaram had suggested that Naxalites need not lay down arms and should hold talks and refrain from firing. “Violence cannot be ended this way.

 

Anyone who wishes to surrender must lay down arms. We will bring them into the mainstream; otherwise, our security forces will deal with them accordingly,” Shah said. Shah said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created Chhattisgarh as a separate State and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was now working to beautify it. He announced that five lakh peepal saplings would be planted in Raipur under the leadership of Finance Minister O P Choudhary. With the drive, he said, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar would become a ‘Peepal City’ and emerge as the world’s most eco-friendly city. Several plantation events have already been held, he added. Shah also said 70 poll promises made under ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ had been fulfilled in the State. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said this year’s Rajyotsava was being celebrated after the State had become free of Naxalism. Shah presented the Chhattisgarh Rajya Alankaran Samman at the ceremony. Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel proposed the vote of thanks. Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, Cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, other public representatives and a large gathering were present.