Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi debate: RaGa asks public if they want open face-off; urges Nitin Gadkari, Yogi Adityanath & other BJP leaders to convince PM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stepped up his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate, asking people on social media whether they would like to see the two leaders face off. In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a public poll asking: "Do you want to see a Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi open debate?" The poll offered two options: "Yes, Modi Ji, Daro Mat" and "No, Modi Ji, Dar Gaye". Gandhi also tagged senior BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asking them to persuade the Prime Minister to accept his challenge.

"Rajnath Singh Ji, Nitin Gadkari Ji, Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji, Yogi Adityanath Ji, you always have the PM’s best interest in mind, please convince him to come," the Congress leader wrote.

Rahul Gandhi renews debate challenge to PM Modi

The public poll came hours after Gandhi renewed his challenge to Modi, saying 24 hours had passed since he first called for an open debate.


In a video shared on X, the Congress leader said: “24 hours have passed, Modi ji. I challenged you. You say that the opposition is anti-national. Pick any stage, any venue, and debate me.”

He also raised questions about allegations of links with foreign forces, adding: “Who is the anti-national? Who has connections with foreign forces? And what kind of connections are they? Do it as soon as possible, don't be afraid.”

On Monday, Gandhi had challenged the Prime Minister to debate allegations that he had become Prime Minister with "foreign help". He also claimed that Modi would not accept the challenge.

What did PM Modi say about the Opposition?

The political exchange followed Modi's address on National Unity Day, or Ekta Diwas, in which he accused the Opposition of acting as an "obstructionist force" rather than playing the role of a constructive opposition.

The Prime Minister also warned against forces attempting to divide the country. He alleged that social media was being used to spread rumours and damage India's image.

“When the country was seeking solutions to external challenges, some forces within the country were also creating instability by spreading lies and rumours. But the countrymen stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation,” Modi said.

He added: “It is our misfortune that at this time in the country, the opposition has turned into an Avrodh Paksh rather than Virodh Paksh. In their frustration, these people are standing as obstacles in the way of the country’s development. This is not opposition; this is obstruction.”

PM Modi's remarks on foreign meetings

In an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi's foreign visits, Modi also questioned whom certain people were meeting abroad and whether they had the backing of forces hostile to India.

“Due to the frustration of more than a decade, these people have now come out in the open. Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Whom are the anti-India forces supporting? Who is speaking the language of India’s enemies? We will have to recognise all these patterns,” the Prime Minister said.


Inputs from agencies