Smriti Irani hits out at Rahul Gandhi over debate challenge to Modi: 'Is he PM candidate?'

Union Minister Smriti Irani taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned his ability to engage in a one-on-one discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and askedif he was a “PM candidate of the INDI Alliance”.

Her remarks came after Gandhi accepted an invitation to have a public debate with the Indian prime minister over crucial issues concerning the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

"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 the level with PM Modi and have a debate? I want to ask him if he is a PM candidate of the INDIA bloc," said the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Amethi.

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Gandhi, who is contesting the general elections from Kerala's Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli seats respectively, accepted the public debate invitation extended by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, former High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, and senior journalist N Ram.

The Congress leader took to his official X handle and said that such a debate "will help people understand our respective vision and enable them to make an informed choice."

He further stated that both he and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have agreed to take part in the debate.

"It is also critical to put to rest any unsubstantiated allegations attributed to our respective parties. As the principal parties fighting the election, the public deserve to hear from their leaders directly," Gandhi said. "Accordingly, either myself or the Congress president would be pleased to participate in such a debate."

"Congress welcomes this initiative and accepts the invitation for discussion. The country also expects the prime minister to take part in this dialogue," he added.

Irani slams Kharge

The BJP leader also hit out at Kharge after he wrote a letter to the leaders of the INDIA bloc alleging discrepancies in the voting data released by the Election Commission.

"Congress talked about counting the wealth of the people. It showed the way to take away half of the property of the citizens. Congress speaks of reversing the decision on Ram Temple. All of these issues are national issues and not just the PM, but every citizen has the right to have an opinion on them," she said.

"If Kharge ji thinks that the aware voters and citizens should not take an interest in national politics, then maybe he thinks that everyone has thoughts like Rahul Gandhi," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)