Rahul Gandhi now dares PM Modi to an open debate on ‘anti-national’ charge against Opposition

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. File | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) that 24 hours had passed, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yet to respond to his challenge of an open debate on the issue of labeling Opposition parties as “deshdrohis” or traitors.

Mr. Gandhi, on Monday (November 2, 2026) challenged Mr. Modi to an open debate, alleging that it was with “foreign help” that Mr. Modi became Prime Minister and continues to occupy the position.

The Congress leader’s challenge came after the Prime Minister had accused the Opposition of taking foreign help to destabilise the country.

Mr. Gandhi said that the PM can choose any stage he likes and appoint RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as the judge.

Mr. Gandhi said, “Questions will come up about the financial system, the financial structure, how the U.S. deal happened, why it happened, why so quickly, why you did it alone, why you didn’t tell the Cabinet, why the Adani case was closed, Epstein —there are so many things like that on which we’ll have an open discussion.”

“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”, Mr. Gandhi added.

24 घंटे हो गए मोदी जी। मैंने आपको चैलेंज दिया है। आप कहते हो कि opposition देशद्रोही है। किसी भी स्टेज पे आप जगह चुनिए, डिबेट कीजिए मेरे साथ। देशद्रोही कौन है? विदेशी फोर्सेस का कनेक्शन किसका है? और किस प्रकार का कनेक्शन है? जल्दी से जल्दी कीजिए, डरिए मत। दोनों मिलेंगे, मीडिया होगी, देश के युवा होंगे, टेबल होगी, एक साइड आप बैठोगे, एक साइड मैं बैठूंगा। जिसको आप जज बनाना चाहते हो, बना दो। मोहन भागवत जी को बिठा दो, चलो। और फिर डिबेट करते हैं। सवाल उठेंगे फाइनेंशियल सिस्टम पर, फाइनेंशियल स्ट्रक्चर पर, US डील कैसे हुई, क्यों हुई, इतनी जल्दी क्यों हुई, सिर्फ आपने क्यों की, कैबिनेट को क्यों नहीं बताया, अडानी का केस बंद क्यों हुआ, Epstein - ऐसी बहुत सारी चीजें हैं जिसपे खुलकर डिस्कशन होगा। आ जाइए, डरिए मत। दूध का दूध, पानी का पानी कीजिए। आप एलिगेशन लगाते हैं ना मेरे ऊपर, आ जाइए, सब साफ हो जाएगा। बाकी चीजों पे आपने defamation केस लगा रखा है, शायद 45 defamation केस मेरे ऊपर हैं। मगर इस डिबेट मामले पे, foreign कनेक्शन पे आप defamation नहीं लगा रहे हो। लगाइए ना, वहाँ भी डिस्कस करेंगे, खुल के। ये सब डिस्कस करते हैं, आइए। हैप्पी दिवाली, मोदी जी। It's been 24 hours since I challenged you, Modi ji. You say the Opposition is anti-national. Choose any stage, any venue, and debate me on this - Who is anti-national? Who has connections with foreign forces? And what is the nature of those connections? Let's do this as soon as possible. Daro mat! We'll both be there. The media will be there. The youth of this country will be there. There will be a table. You'll sit on one side, I'll sit on the other. You can appoint whoever you want as the judge. You can even make Mohan Bhagwat ji the judge. There will be questions about the financial system, the financial structure, how the US deal happened, why it happened and why so quickly, why you made the deal alone and didn't inform the Cabinet, why the Adani case was closed, Epstein - and many other issues. We'll discuss all of them openly. Let the truth come out. Let everything be crystal clear. You make allegations against me, don't you? Come forward. Everything will become clear. You've filed defamation cases against me over other matters. I think there are around 45 defamation cases against me. But on this issue of the debate, on the question of foreign connections, you haven't filed a defamation case. Go ahead, file one. We'll discuss that openly too. Happy Diwali, Modi ji.

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