New Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate over allegations of "foreign
backing". He has now taken the challenge to social media, asking people whether they want to see the two leaders debate. "Do you want to see a Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi open debate?" Rahul Gandhi wrote on X while sharing a poll with two options: "Yes, Modi Ji, Daro Mat" and "No, Modi Ji, Dar Gaye". In the same post, the Congress leader also tagged senior BJP leaders and urged them to convince PM Modi to accept his challenge. "Rajnath Singh Ji, Nitin Gadkari Ji, Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji, Yogi Adityanath Ji, you you always have the PM’s best interest in mind, please convince him to come," Rahul wrote.
Youth of India,Do you want to see a Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi open debate?@rajnathsingh ji, @nitin_gadkari ji, @ChouhanShivraj ji, @myogiadityanath ji - you always have the PM’s best interest in mind, please convince him to come.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 3, 2026
The Rae Bareli MP posted the poll hours after renewing his challenge to the Prime Minister, saying 24 hours had passed since he first dared him to debate.
In a video shared on X, Rahul 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.”
“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,” he added.
On Monday, Rahul had challenged PM Modi to an open debate over allegations that he became Prime Minister with "foreign help". He had also claimed that the Prime Minister would not dare to accept the challenge.
The exchange began after the Congress leader responded to PM Modi's 'Ekta Diwas' speech, in which the Prime Minister accused the Opposition of acting as an "obstructionist force" (avrodh paksh) instead of a constructive opposition.
PM Modi also warned against forces "engaged in conspiracies to divide" the country. He alleged that social media was "being weaponised, rumours being spread, and attempts being made to tarnish 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," PM Modi said.
“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,” he added.
In an apparent reference to Rahul's foreign trips, the Prime Minister also questioned who was meeting whom abroad and which anti-India forces were supporting them.
“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,” PM Modi said.
