Rahul Gandhi has challenged PM Modi to an open debate on foreign links, India-US trade deal, Adani case and Epstein files, asking him to choose any venue.
Published: November 3, 2026, 8:15 PM IST
Share Article
https://www.india.com/news/india/dont-afraid-rahul-gandhi-challenges-pm-modi-open-debate-foreign-links-us-trade-deal-epstein-files-adani-says-choose-any-stage-wishes-him-happy-diwali-8541938/
‘Don’t be afraid’: Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Modi to open debate | image; x
Rahul Gandhi Renews Open Debate Challenge to PM Modi: 24 hours after he first challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday renewed his challenge over allegations of foreign connections, asking the PM to choose any stage and venueIn a video message on X, Gandhi requested PM Modi to come forward for a public debate in front of the media and the country’s youth.
What Did Rahul Gandhi Say?
“It’s been 24 hours since I challenged you, Modi jiYou say the Opposition is anti-nationalChoose 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 possibleDaro mat!” Gandhi wrote.
Explaining the format of the debate, he said both leaders could sit across a table, giving the PM the luxury to appoint anyone as the judge.
“We’ll both be thereThe media will be thereThe youth of this country will be thereThere will be a tableYou’ll sit on one side, I’ll sit on the otherYou can appoint whoever you want as the judgeYou can even make Mohan Bhagwat ji the judge,” he said.
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-nationalChoose 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 possibleDaro mat!
We’ll both be thereThe media will be thereThe youth of this country will be thereThere will be a tableYou’ll sit on one side, I’ll sit on the otherYou can appoint whoever you want as the judgeYou 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 issuesWe’ll discuss all of them openly.
Let the truth come outLet everything be crystal clear.
You make allegations against me, don’t you? Come forwardEverything will become clear.
You’ve filed defamation cases against me over other mattersI 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 caseGo ahead, file oneWe’ll discuss that openly too.
Happy Diwali, Modi ji.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 3, 2026
Debate On Foreign Links, US Trade Deal And Epstein
Gandhi said the discussion should cover several issues, including the financial system, the India-US deal, the Adani case and the Epstein matter.
“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 issuesWe’ll discuss all of them openlyLet the truth come outLet everything be crystal clear,” he said.
He further challenged PM Modi to file a defamation case against him over the allegations, saying that he had already faced several such cases.
“You make allegations against me, don’t you? Come forwardEverything will become clearYou’ve filed defamation cases against me over other mattersI think there are around 45 defamation cases against meBut on this issue of the debate, on the question of foreign connections, you haven’t filed a defamation caseGo ahead, file oneWe’ll discuss that openly tooHappy Diwali, Modi ji,” Gandhi added.
Rahul Gandhi Repeats Claims of Foreign Influence Over PM Modi
The renewed challenge follows Gandhi’s earlier allegations that PM Modi became and remained Prime Minister with foreign assistance and that India’s financial system was controlled and supported by foreign forces.
In his earlier post, Gandhi had written, “Mr Modi, stop lying to this nationYou became PM because of foreign helpYou remain PM because of foreign helpYour financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreignersForeign social media fully backs you.”
He had also challenged the Prime Minister to an open debate, saying, “I challenge you to an open debate about thisAny stage, any timeCome if you have the gutsYou won’t dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you.”
PM Modi Targeted Opposition Over Alleged Attempts To Divide Country
The row over the issue erupted after PM Modi criticised the Opposition parties at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Statue of Unity in GujaratThe event marked the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. While addressing the gathering he accused the opposition parties of becoming an obstructionist force rather than performing their democratic role.
The PM alleged that several foreign forces are planning and conspiring to divide India and questioned their links with people abroad and alleged foreign support.
(with ANI inputs)