BJP Deflects Rahul Gandhi's Debate Challenge To PM Modi, Says 'Declare Yourself PM Candidate First'

Earlier, the BJP had turned down Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's challenge for a debate on the party's manifesto.

BJP has turned down latest challenge by Rahul Gandhi for a debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Source : PTI

The BJP, while going all guns blazing in the ongoing poll rallies, seems to be playing it safe when it comes to taking up public debate challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP has now turned down the latest challenge for a public debate with PM Modi by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Earlier, the BJP had turned down Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's challenge for a debate on the party's manifesto, about which the Prime Minister was allegedly spreading "lies". 

PM Modi and the BJP, while refusing to entertain the Congress's challenges for debates on manifestoes and public issues, have been mounting scathing attacks on Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in poll rallies. In his latest challenge, Rahul Gandhi sought to have a public debate with Prime Minister Modi on their respective parties' vision about the future of the nation.

Reacting to a call for a debate by The Hindu, Rahul Gandhi said: "It would be a positive initiative for the major parties to present their vision to the country from one platform for a healthy democracy. Congress welcomes this initiative and accepts the invitation for discussion. The country also expects the Prime Minister to take part in this dialogue."

स्वस्थ लोकतंत्र के लिए प्रमुख दलों का एक मंच से अपना विज़न देश के समक्ष रखना एक सकारात्मक पहल होगी।

कांग्रेस इस पहल का स्वागत करती है और चर्चा का निमंत्रण स्वीकार करती है।

देश प्रधानमंत्री जी से भी इस संवाद में हिस्सा लेने की अपेक्षा करता है। pic.twitter.com/YMWWqzBRhE

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 11, 2024

Late on Saturday, Himanta Biswa Sarma sought to turn down the latest challenge from Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi. He said Rahul Gandhi did not have credentials even within the Congress and hence, PM Modi had no reason to debate with him.

The platform of Parliament was available to the gentleman called Rahul Gandhi to debate with the government. Did he ever utilize that platform? Why would the Prime Minister of India debate with a person who has no credentials even within his party? What is your interest? Please… https://t.co/iYoYThKMJF

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) May 11, 2024

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said that the party can depute a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha spokespersons to debate with him but not PM Modi. "Rahul Gandhi isn’t even the PM candidate of the Congress Party, let alone the INDI Alliance. Let him first get himself declared as Congress’s PM candidate, state [that] he will take accountability for his party’s defeat, and then invite PM for a debate. Until then, we are ready to depute our BJYM spokespersons to take him on in any debate," Surya said.

Who is Rahul Gandhi, that PM Modi should debate with him?

Rahul Gandhi isn’t even the PM candidate of the Congress Party, let alone the INDI Alliance.

Let him first get himself declared as Congress’s PM candidate, state he will take accountability for his party’s defeat, and… https://t.co/v1oTtVUuHX

— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 11, 2024

Echoing his sentiments, Smriti Irani said that Rahul Gandhi should not boast. "Firstly, the person who does not have the courage to contest against a normal BJP worker in his so-called castle, should refrain from boasting. Secondly, who wants to sit at level with PM Modi and have a debate, I want to ask him if is he a PM candidate of the INDI alliance," she asked.