Rahul Gandhi questions BJP's call for SIR debate, alleges he is not allowed to speak in Parliament

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. PTI picture.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a face-to-face debate, claiming he could prove within five minutes that the PM was "anti-national" and "controlled" by US President Donald Trump.

"Yesterday, I challenged Narendra Modi to a face-to-face debate. He can make anyone he wants the judge for this debate. I guarantee the nation that Narendra Modi cannot sit before me. I can guarantee that within five minutes of the debate starting I will prove that Narendra Modi is a 'desh-drohi' and Donald Trump controls him," Gandhi said.

Rahul also alleged that Trump had pressured Modi into signing a deal with the United States, claiming that the agreement was finalised following threats from the US President.

He began his speech by asking the gathering, "How's your mood today?"

Rahul also reiterated his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the latter's charge that Congress is anti-national.

The Congress leader further alleged that the Prime Minister would not accept his debate challenge, claiming that he was not being allowed to speak freely in Parliament.

"Come anywhere, sit with me and debate," he said.

Attacking the BJP, the former Congress chief said, "They say have a discussion in Parliament, but you switch off my mic; you don't let me speak in Parliament."

On Tuesday, Union home minister Amit Shah said the government is willing to convene a special session of Parliament to hold discussions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, daring the opposition to join the debate.

Accusing Modi of working for billionaires, the Congress leader said, "He works for Adani. He hands over the entire country's land, infrastructure, and airports to them. He will not work for the farmers. He will not work for small and medium businesses; the Congress will."

"Narendra Modi says the Congress is anti-national. So, I issued a direct challenge to him yesterday. I said, look Modi ji, come anywhere, sit with me and debate. You sit on one side of the table, and I will sit on the other, and debate.

"You can pick the judge you want, even Mohan Bhagwat. If you want to make Adani the judge, make him sit in front of you. It won't matter. If you want to hold the debate in NDTV's studio, hold it there. You just come and sit in front of me, and then let's talk about who's anti-national." he said.

Sharpening his attack, Gandhi also claimed that Modi signed the US trade deal within just five minutes.

"He neither told the Cabinet nor any bureaucrat (about the deal). Trump threatened him, and he signed the US deal. He handed over India's farmers, small and medium industries, and data to Trump.

"Trump keeps saying he stopped the India-Pakistan war (last year), but Modi cannot even utter a word to counter the claim," Gandhi alleged.

"There was a case against Adani in the US. You can Google it. But after the US deal happened, Trump got the case closed. What greater proof can be there?" the Congress leader said.

'Mann smelled of alcohol in Parliament by 11 am'

Rahul told the gathering that he would narrate a story about their chief minister.

"In Lok Sabha, he (Mann) used to crack jokes sitting with us. At 11 am, he used to smell of alcohol. I am not saying Bhagwant Mann should not consume alcohol; it is his personal matter. But if you want to fight drugs, the chief minister can't get intoxicated every evening," the laeder of opposition in Lok Sabha said.

"Punjab needs a man who can fight for its cause, someone who feels the pain of drug addiction in his heart," he added.

The Congress leader also said that people deserve a government that works for Punjab, "not like AAP, which is run from Delhi".

"We will run the government from the soil of Punjab, with neither the home minister nor a former chief minister of Delhi interfering," Gandhi said.

"Today, the reins (of the government) are held by Amit Shah and Arvind Kejriwal, while Bhagwant Mann just sits there. Punjab is being run from Delhi," Gandhi alleged, and urged the crowd to vote for Congress for jobs and a drugs-free Punjab.

Rahul calls 'chitta' major issue facing Punjab

Congress leader Rahul also launched a scathing attack on the AAP government in Punjab on various fronts and termed 'chitta' a major issue in the state.

"Many years back, I had said that drugs are spreading in Punjab. The BJP and the Akali Dal at that time said Rahul Gandhi does not know anything about Punjab, downplaying the drug menace. Today, 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) is a major issue in the state," Rahul said at an 'Insaaf Rally' here, kicking off the Congress' poll campaign ahead of the Punjab elections due early next year.

"People need a government that works for Punjab. Not like AAP, which is run from Delhi," the Lok Sabha laeder of opposition said.

"Tell me, which poll promises did it fulfil?" Rahul asked the crowd, urging them to vote for Congress for jobs and a drugs-free Punjab.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, its Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot, state Congress chief Pargat Singh, and senior state leaders Partap Bajwa, Vijay Inder Singla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring were present at the rally.

Recalls interaction with Moosewala

Referring to slain singer Sidhu Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh walking up to him for a chat before his address, Gandhi said, "I had a plan for my speech; but a few minutes back, Sidhu Moosewala's father came and met me, so I am changing the plan."

He then recalled his meeting with Moosewala years back, when he did not know much about him.

"A few years ago, I had met Sidhu Moosewala when he had come to see me in my office. I did not know him at the time. He came across as an impressive young man. He had a tattoo. I had not listened to his songs then. I was told that he was a good person, a musician, and wanted to join the Congress. He was a dynamic, talented young man and we made him join the party," Rahul said.

"I felt that he ought to be made to feel comfortable as he was a newcomer to politics. He was probably Punjab's most talented singer, who could also one day make a mark in politics," he said.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popular as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022.

"Punjab's voice used to come out in his songs, which I listened to later," the Congress leader said.

"His security was removed. And one day he was killed in broad daylight," he said.

Rahul said when he visited Moosewala's residence later, his father told him that there cannot be a greater pain than seeing the death of one's son.