Political Face-Off: Rahul Gandhi Challenges PM Modi To Open Debate Over SIR, Foreign Support Row; Amit Shah Responds

The matter involving an open debate challenge by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to PM Narendra Modi has heated up again. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha has once again asked the PM to agree to a face-to-face discussion on several issues, including alleged foreign influence and concerns about India’s financial system. On Tuesday, Gabdhi said PM Modi can even choose the venue for the open debate. He also wants the debate to be held in front of the media and young people so that the public can follow it. He added that the PM can pick anyone to moderate the session, even RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"It has been 24 hours, Modi ji. I have challenged you. You say that the Opposition is anti-national. Pick any stage, any venue, and debate me. Who is anti-national? Who has links with foreign forces and what kind of connections are they?" Gandhi said in Hindi. "Do it as soon as possible. Don't be afraid," Gandhi said, taking to his X handle.

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.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 3, 2026

Amit Shah On Rahul Gandhi's Open Debate Challenge

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's challenge, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government was prepared to discuss all matters in Parliament and asked Gandhi to participate in the proceedings. The remarks came a day after Gandhi first proposed the open debate.

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Rahul Gandhi Questions US Deal, Adani Case Closure

The Congress leader also questioned Modi's US deal negotiations and why it was finalised without informing the Cabinet. He also asked why Gautam Adani's case involving US securities fraud and bribery was closed.

"Why did you take this decision alone? Why wasn't the Cabinet informed? Why was the (Gautam) Adani case closed? What about (Jeffrey) Epstein?" Gandhi asked.

Rahul Gandhi also pointed out the string of legal troubles he’s been dealing with, noting that close to 45 defamation cases have been slapped on him. He made it clear that none of those cases had anything to do with the comments he had made about alleged foreign links, and added that the PM was free to take legal action over the matter if he chose to do so.

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Amit Shah Targets Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile, Amit Shah, during his trip to Raipur on Tuesday, hit out at the Congress leader. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav, the Home Minister alleged Gandhi was supporting the Maoist concept of a "Janata Sarkar," or people’s government. He went further, accusing the Congress of having backed Naxalism all along.

Shah also repeated that the Centre was ready to discuss several issues in Parliament, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and claims of illegal infiltration. He said the government was prepared to take these matters up during a special session of Parliament.