NEW DELHI, NOV 13 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday repeated his debate dare to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that Modi will not remain in office after a one-on-one exchange with him.
Responding to a question during an ‘Ask Me’ session on Instagram about why he was insisting on a public debate when the BJP has said that the exchange can take place in Parliament, Gandhi said he was not allowed to speak in the House, and his microphone was even switched off.
“You did not let me talk on the farm bills, vote chori, SIR, China, on (Gen) Naravane’s book, Epstein. I want a one-on-one debate. I don’t want a debate entailing long speeches,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
“I want that Narendra Modi makes allegations against me and I do the same to him. He can come; there will be a table, on one side there will be Narendra Modi ji and on the other side, it would be me,” Gandhi said.
He added that he had no objection if Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani or RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was appointed as the judge for the debate.
“But I guarantee that the prime minister will not remain the PM after a one-on-one debate with me,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi has repeatedly challenged Modi to an open debate and earlier claimed that it would take him just five minutes to establish that the prime minister was a “traitor”.
The BJP leaders have scoffed at Gandhi’s challenge, alleging that he has been running away from debates in Parliament.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that while Gandhi is asking the prime minister to choose the venue for a debate, there already exists one in Parliament and called on him to show “some seriousness and responsibility” as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Congress dig at govt for rising price on essential commodities
The Congress on Friday took a swipe at the Modi government over rising prices of essential commodities.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh shared media reports on X claiming that people were grappling with rising inflation and a sharp increase in the prices of food and beverages. In a post in Hindi, Ramesh said, “Under the Modi government, inflation is no longer just a ‘daayan’; it has now become an uninvited guest, devouring every household’s budget.”
From the kitchen to every other daily necessity, prices have spiralled out of control, he claimed. “The Modi government’s misguided policies have broken the backs of ordinary people. Inflation has been rising for the past 12 years, and its real impact is far greater than government statistics suggest,” Ramesh said.
“But this year, even those figures have been rising every month. Retail inflation has reached a two-year high of 6.09 per cent. What is surprising is that inflation has risen in 11 of the 12 consumption categories, yet the arrogant ‘pravachan mantri’ has remained silent about his government’s performance,” he said,
“Food inflation has reached 8.94 per cent. Onions have become 116 per cent more expensive, garlic 60 per cent, and ginger 48 per cent. Inflation is running rampant across everything, from flour, oil, ghee, milk and lentils to soap. Besides raising prices, companies are considering reducing product quantities,” Ramesh said.
Now there are also fears of interest rate hikes, which would make both borrowing and living even more expensive for ordinary people, he said.
“This is not an Amrit Kaal; it is ‘mehengaai ka bhuchaal’ ( earthquake of inflation),” Ramesh said.
The Congress on Thursday launched an attack on the Modi government over rising prices of essential commodities, saying households are struggling with mounting expenses and demanding effective measures to control inflation.