Rahul Gandhi, the opposition’s chief lawmaker in the lower house of parliament, alleged on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intercepting his communications. In a recorded message, Gandhi stated that his mobile phone contains the proof of his accusations. He argued that a face-to-face discussion would expose who acts against national interests and for how long. According to ThePrint, Gandhi insisted that the evidence is locked inside the device, which he claims is under surveillance by the Prime Minister.
The Congress leader renewed his demand for a direct debate with Modi. He suggested that such an event would clarify who is directed by external powers. Gandhi mocked the Prime Minister for using a teleprompter at a recent Diwali function, posting on X that the stage and atmosphere belonged to Modi, yet he still needed a script. Gandhi wrote, "Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation," according to ThePrint. He invited the Prime Minister to bring a teleprompter to the debate and appoint a neutral judge, stating that the public deserves to know the truth about alleged treason.
Gandhi initially issued this challenge on 2 November, accusing the Prime Minister of depending on foreign aid to secure his position. He claimed that foreign entities control India’s financial systems and social media platforms. Gandhi invited Modi to an open discussion at any time, asserting that the Prime Minister refuses because he fears exposure. The next day, Gandhi offered Modi the power to choose the arbiter, naming RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as a potential candidate.
On 4 November, at a rally in Punjab, Gandhi promised to prove within five minutes that Modi is a traitor. He later asked Home Minister Amit Shah to convince the Prime Minister to accept the challenge, telling him not to be afraid. After 9 November, Gandhi responded to Modi’s characterization of critics as ‘Dimagi Naxals’ at a CRPF event in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Gandhi maintained that the debate must determine who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces, keeping the pressure on the government to respond.