LoP Rahul Gandhi challenges Modi to open debate, alleges he became PM 'because of foreign help'

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday, November 2, challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate, accusing him of depending on foreign assistance to become and remain the Prime Minister. Gandhi's remarks came a day after Modi accused the Opposition of acting as an obstructive force, alleged that anti-India elements were supporting it and claimed that social media was being used to spread rumours and damage India's image. In a post on X, Gandhi responded to the Prime Minister's remarks, saying, "Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation." "You became PM because of foreign help.

You remain PM because of foreign help," he alleged, adding that the country's financial system was under the control and support of foreign entities. Gandhi also claimed that foreign social media platforms were backing the Prime Minister and challenged him to discuss the allegations publicly. "I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts," the Congress leader wrote. He further alleged that Modi would avoid the challenge because he was apprehensive about what the Congress leader knew about him. "You won't dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you,"

Gandhi said. He also posted the Hindi version of his message, reiterating his allegations and extending the same challenge to the Prime Minister. The post had garnered 48.8K views as of 5 pm on Monday, according to the screenshot shared. 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. 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. मोदी जी, इस देश से झूठ बोलना बंद कीजिए। आप विदेशी मदद से प्रधानमंत्री बने। और विदेशी मदद से ही प्रधानमंत्री बने हुए हैं। आपकी आर्थिक व्यवस्था पूरी तरह विदेशियों के नियंत्रण में और समर्थन से है। विदेशी सोशल मीडिया पूरी तरह आपके साथ खड़ा है। मैं आपको इस मुद्दे पर खुली बहस की चुनौती देता हूं। कोई भी मंच, किसी भी समय। हिम्मत है तो आइए। आप नहीं आएंगे, क्योंकि जो मैं आपके बारे में जानता हूं आप उससे डरते हैं। -- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi)

November 2, 2026 What did PM Modi say about 'obstructionist forces'? Gandhi's response followed Modi's address at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar on Saturday, October 31, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Addressing a gathering at the Parade Ground, the Prime Minister accused the Opposition of abandoning its role as a constructive political counterweight and instead becoming an "Avrodh Paksh" (obstructive force), rather than a "Virodh Paksh" (opposition). "It is our misfortune that the Opposition has turned into Avrodh Paksh," Modi said.

Without directly naming Gandhi, the Prime Minister referred to the Congress leader's foreign visits and raised questions about his engagements overseas. "Who is secretly meeting whom in foreign countries? Forces opposed to India are extending their support to whom? Who is speaking the language of India's enemies?" he asked. Modi alleged that certain groups were working to create divisions within the country and said their activities needed to be confronted collectively. He also accused these elements of using social media to influence public opinion, spreading misinformation and attempting to undermine India's international standing.

"Social media is being used as a weapon, rumours are being spread, and India's image is being tarnished," he said, calling for national unity in confronting such challenges. The Prime Minister also said that the country had fulfilled its commitment to eliminate Naxalism and Maoism, but cautioned against the continuing threat of what he described as "dimagi Naxals". He identified securing India's borders, preventing infiltration and demographic changes, and moving towards a secular civil code as the country's next major priorities. Modi said the twin objectives of the country were "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" and "Vikshit Bharat".

Rahul Gandhi's attack on Modi at Ramlila Maidan rally The latest exchange also comes against the backdrop of the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where Gandhi launched a sustained attack on Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. Addressing opposition supporters, the Congress leader asserted that Kumar would be removed from the CEC's position and jailed, while Modi and Shah would subsequently face legal action over alleged vote theft. "I want to say to you, Gyanesh Kumar will be removed from the CEC post.

Gyanesh Kumar will go to jail," Gandhi said, describing action against the poll panel chief as the first step towards restoring democratic institutions. He alleged that electoral manipulation had taken place through electronic voting machines and changes to electoral rolls, claiming that 13.3 crore voters had been removed from voter lists after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi said this represented approximately 15 per cent of the electorate, or one in every seven voters, while the difference between the NDA and INDIA bloc's vote shares was three percentage points. On this basis, he described the 2024 general election as illegal and alleged that similar irregularities had occurred in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

Gandhi also accused the RSS of exercising control over institutions and alleged that economic power was concentrated among a handful of influential individuals, including industrialist Gautam Adani. He maintained that no individual or institution could supersede the Constitution and said the Opposition would continue resisting attempts to undermine democratic structures. The Congress leader, however, said that Modi, Shah and Kumar were not his personal enemies, emphasising that the opposition's fight was against alleged attacks on constitutional values and people's rights. "We don't hate Narendra Modi, Amit Shah or Gyanesh Kumar.

We are the people who open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan'; we believe in Ahimsa," he said. BJP alleges differences between Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Meanwhile, the BJP on Sunday alleged that the Congress was witnessing an internal tussle between camps led by Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In a video message on Instagram, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that Priyanka was not given an opportunity to address either the mock Parliament organised by the Congress or the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally. He suggested that she appeared unhappy and alleged that her political voice was being suppressed within the party.

"Could it be that a political game is being played within the Gandhi family itself?" Patra asked, suggesting that Rahul Gandhi was apprehensive about being sidelined if his sister emerged as a prominent leader. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also questioned whether separate Rahul and Priyanka camps were developing within the Congress. He alleged that Priyanka had been seated in the second row during the mock Parliament and was not permitted to speak at either gathering. The November 1 rally followed a resolution adopted by opposition parties seeking the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Senior INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, CPI general secretary D Raja and CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, attended the gathering. The BJP also criticised the rally for being organised on November 1, the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Home Minister Amit Shah questioned the timing, while BJP president JP Nadda described the opposition gathering as a "foolish drama".