Rahul Gandhi Challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Open Debate on Alleged Foreign Help

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage in an open debate regarding allegations of foreign influence and national security.

In a video posted on X, Gandhi invited Modi to choose any stage and venue, suggesting that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat or an appointee of the Prime Minister could act as a judge. The challenge followed remarks by Modi accusing the opposition of taking foreign help to destabilize the country and spread rumors.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded by defending the government's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, asserting during a rally in Hyderabad that the exercise identified three crore illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh among deleted voters. Shah challenged Gandhi to debate the issue during a special session of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court sought responses from Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding a petition questioning their role in an opposition march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which resulted in injuries and security concerns. The Bharatiya Progressive Party and other officials criticized the opposition's actions, while political debate intensified over electoral rolls and foreign association allegations.