Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Modi to open debate on 'foreign help'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a "Save Democracy" march against alleged electoral irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 01, 2026.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (November 2, 2026) challenged Prime Minister Narendra 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. Modi, stop lying to this nation. You became PM because of foreign help. You remain PM because of foreign help. Your financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreigners. Foreign social media fully backs you,” Mr. Gandhi alleged in a post on X.

“I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts. You won’t dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you,” he added.

He also shared a screenshot of a media report on the Prime Minister’s allegation that obstructionist forces were trying to divide the country and that social media was being used to spread rumours.

“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,” Mr. Modi had said on Saturday (October 31) in Gujarat.

“It is our misfortune that at this time in the country, the Opposition has turned into an avrodh paksh (destructive force) rather than virodh paksh (opposing side). In their frustration, these people are standing as obstacles in the way of the country’s development. This is not opposition; this is obstruction,” the Prime Minister had said, adding that “these people were engaged in shredding the boundaries of the Constitution”.

Mr. Modi also took a dig at the Opposition leader’s trips abroad without directly naming him.

“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,” the Prime Minister had said.