Rahul Gandhi has again challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a debate.
Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
He made the challenge on Monday, and he said the debate should be held "any time, any place."
- Sunday (Diwali)Modi visited Bastar and told CRPF personnel that the threat from Dimagi Naxals is not over.
- MondayRahul Gandhi challenged Modi to a debate on who is anti-national, 'any time, any place'.
- NowNo date for a debate has been announced. The two sides are trading sharp words in public.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The debate would be on a simple question.
Who is anti-national, meaning someone working against the country, and who is controlled by foreign forces?
Key points
- Rahul Gandhi again challenged PM Modi to a debate on who is anti-national.
- The challenge follows Modi's remarks to security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on Diwali.
- Modi said 'Dimagi Naxals' had infiltrated political parties and other organisations.
- Congress says the Prime Minister uses such labels against people who disagree with him.
What did PM Modi say that caused this?
Modi visited Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Sunday.
He spoke to personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a central armed force. The visit was on Diwali.
Modi said armed Naxalites had been wiped out from the forests. But he said the threat is not over.
He used the term "Dimagi Naxals," which means people with a Naxal mindset.
According to Modi, these people have taken control of several organisations.
He said they were inciting people against the Constitution and democracy.
He urged security forces to identify and defeat them.
How did Congress respond?
Gandhi replied on X, the social media platform.
He wrote that the CRPF personnel's faces showed they did not believe the Prime Minister.
He said Modi had called the opposition Naxals.
Congress leader Pawan Khera supported the post.
He said the question of courage after a debate would arise only if a debate happened.
Jairam Ramesh, another Congress MP, accused Modi of using Diwali to target rivals.
He alleged a pattern of labelling those who disagree with the government.
Why does this matter, and what comes next?
This exchange comes during a wider fight between the Congress and the BJP.
The INDIA bloc, an alliance of opposition parties, is campaigning against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
It alleges vote theft and problems with the voter list review, called the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.
So why does this matter to you? The voter list decides who can vote in an election. Any change to it affects every voter.
No date for a debate has been announced so far. For now, the two sides are trading sharp words in public.
Sources
- Hindustan Times: ‘Any time, any place’: Rahul challenges PM Modi to debate anti-national charge
- Deccan Herald: 'Any time, any place': Rahul Gandhi reiterates debate dare after PM Modi's 'Dimagi Naxal' jibe on Diwali
- Free Press Journal: 'Any Time, Any Place': Rahul Gandhi Challenges PM Modi Over Naxal Remark At CRPF Camp
