Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Modi to open debate on foreign links, US trade deal and Epstein

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate, questioning the Centre's handling of the US trade deal, the Adani case and alleged foreign connections. Gandhi also challenged the prime minister to respond to allegations that the Opposition had links with foreign forces, saying the discussion could be held at any venue in the presence of the media and the country's youth.

In a post on X, Gandhi said 24 hours had passed since he issued the challenge to Modi, urging him to choose a venue and agree to a public debate.

"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," Gandhi wrote.


He proposed that both leaders sit across a table, with the media and young people present, and suggested that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat could be appointed as the judge for the debate.

Gandhi raises questions over US deal

Listing the issues he wanted discussed, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha questioned the financial system, the circumstances surrounding the US deal and the speed at which it was concluded.

He also asked why the deal was finalised without informing the Cabinet and raised questions about the Adani case and the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.

"There are so many things like that on which we'll have an open discussion," Gandhi said, urging Modi not to shy away from the proposed debate.

The Congress leader said the discussion would also provide an opportunity to address allegations levelled against him by the prime minister and the ruling establishment.

Congress leader invokes defamation cases

Gandhi also referred to the defamation cases filed against him, claiming that he faced around 45 such cases over other matters.

He questioned why no defamation case had been filed over his remarks concerning alleged foreign connections and challenged Modi to initiate legal proceedings if he believed the allegations were false.

"Go ahead, file one—we'll discuss that openly too. Let's discuss all of this, come on," he said.