Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate, saying 24 hours had passed since he first issued the invitation. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha asked Modi to choose any venue and proposed that the discussion take place in front of the media and young people. Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded by reiterating that the government was ready to discuss all issues in Parliament, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and alleged infiltration.
The exchange has widened the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with both sides seeking to frame the terms of a public debate. While Gandhi wants a direct discussion with the Prime Minister on foreign influence and the country’s financial system, Shah has challenged him to participate in a parliamentary debate on issues raised by the Opposition.
Rahul Gandhi’s debate challenge expands to foreign influence and financial issues
In a video posted on X, Gandhi asked Modi to select the venue and time for an open debate. He suggested that anyone chosen by the Prime Minister, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, could moderate the discussion.
Rahul Gandhi said the debate should examine allegations concerning foreign influence over India’s political and financial systems. He also questioned how the India-US deal was negotiated, why it was finalised in a hurry and why, according to him, the Cabinet was not informed about the decision.
The Congress leader further raised questions about the Gautam Adani case and Jeffrey Epstein, while referring to the defamation cases filed against him. He claimed that he faced around 45 such cases and said no defamation case had been filed over his remarks about foreign connections.
Rahul Gandhi also launched a poll on X asking young Indians whether they wanted to see an open debate between him and Modi. He tagged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging them to persuade the Prime Minister to participate.
Rahul Gandhi’s debate challenge followed his earlier remarks alleging that foreign entities had helped Modi become Prime Minister and continued to support him. Gandhi had issued the initial challenge after Modi’s October 31 address at the Statue of Unity, where the Prime Minister criticised forces he accused of trying to divide the country and damage its image.
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Amit Shah offers special Parliament session on SIR and EVMs
Amit Shah said the government was prepared to discuss every issue in Parliament and specifically named EVMs, SIR and alleged illegal immigration. Speaking at the concluding ceremony of Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Raipur, Shah said the government was willing to convene a special session for the discussion.
The Home Minister also accused the Congress of supporting Naxalism and alleged that Gandhi had backed the concept of a Janatana Sarkar, or people’s government, associated with Maoist groups.
Shah had earlier issued the parliamentary debate challenge during the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march in Hyderabad. He accused Gandhi of preventing Parliament from functioning and said the government was ready to hold discussions on the issues raised by the Opposition.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also responded to Gandhi’s invitation, saying he was willing to debate the Congress leader at the party office on documents, issues and alleged links with foreign powers. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, meanwhile, criticised Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of advancing the interests of India’s enemies. Rijiju also questioned the suitability of the proposed debate.
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Congress-BJP exchange follows INDIA bloc’s Vote Bachao rally
Rahul Gandhi’s debate challenge comes days after the INDIA bloc held its ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Opposition leaders accused the Election Commission of facilitating large-scale voter deletions through the SIR exercise and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
On October 15, the Supreme Court had sought responses from the Election Commission and other respondents on a petition filed by Gandhi and 12 Opposition leaders concerning alleged voter deletions and irregularities in the SIR process.
The competing invitations for a debate have therefore brought two different sets of issues into the political spotlight. Gandhi has called for a direct exchange with Modi on foreign influence, economic matters and allegations involving public institutions. Shah, on the other hand, has proposed a parliamentary discussion on electoral rolls, EVMs and infiltration.
As of Tuesday, neither side had announced an agreed date or format for the proposed debate. The government has expressed its willingness to convene a special Parliament session, while Rahul Gandhi continues to seek an open discussion with the Prime Minister at a venue of Modi’s choice.