Rahul Gandhi alleges PM Modi has his 'phone tapped', renews one-on-one debate challenge

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having his phone tapped, claiming that the Prime Minister was aware of the information he possessed about alleged foreign interference and anti-national activities. Gandhi reiterated his challenge to Modi for an open, face-to-face debate, saying the exchange would bring out details he claimed were already on his phone.

"The Prime Minister is aware of this because he has my phone tapped. The day he agrees to a face-to-face debate, everyone will learn who is under the control of foreign powers, who is anti-national, and how long they have been involved in anti-national activities," the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a video shared by the Congress on X.

Gandhi claimed that evidence of Modi being under the influence of "foreign powers" was already available on his phone and challenged the Prime Minister to address the allegations publicly.


"The moment he (PM Modi) comes for an open debate, everybody will know who is being controlled by foreign powers, is an anti-national, since when, and lots of other details that I know and are on my phone," he said.

The Congress leader also reiterated that the proposed debate could take place at any venue and at a time of the Prime Minister's choosing. "My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place," Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi proposes direct confrontation, names Adani and Bhagwat as possible judges

Gandhi had earlier renewed his demand for a one-on-one public debate during an 'Ask Me' session on Instagram on Friday. Responding to a question about why he was seeking an alternative platform when the BJP maintained that Parliament was the appropriate forum, he alleged that he was being prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha.

He claimed that his microphone had been switched off in the House and cited several issues on which he alleged he had not been allowed to raise questions.

"You did not let me talk on the farm bills, vote chori, SIR, China, on (Gen) Naravane's book, Epstein. I want a one-on-one debate. I don't want a debate entailing long speeches," Gandhi said.

Describing the format he wanted, the Congress leader proposed an exchange in which both sides could directly make allegations against each other without lengthy speeches.

"I want that Narendra Modi makes allegations against me and I do the same to him. He can come; there will be a table, on one side there will be Narendra Modi ji and on the other side, it would be me," he said.

Gandhi also suggested that Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat could act as judges for the proposed debate.

"But I guarantee that the prime minister will not remain the PM after a one-on-one debate with me," he said.

BJP asks Rahul Gandhi to take up challenge in Parliament

Gandhi has repeatedly challenged Modi to participate in an open debate, including through posts on X and appeals to senior Union ministers to persuade the Prime Minister to accept his proposal.

On November 6, the Congress leader had said he was willing to debate Modi at "any platform, any time, any place". His latest remarks come amid a political confrontation between the BJP and Opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had responded to Gandhi's challenge on Thursday by asking him to raise the issue in Parliament, which he described as the appropriate forum for such a discussion. Shah also said the Centre was prepared to convene a special session of Parliament if the Congress formally requested one.

BJP leaders have previously rejected Gandhi's demand for a separate public debate, arguing that Parliament already provides him with an opportunity to question the government.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also questioned the Congress leader's insistence on an alternative platform, urging him to show "some seriousness and responsibility" in his role as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)