Debate or Advice? Congress Hits Back at Rijiju, Demands PM Modi Face Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia hits back at Kiren Rijiju's advice, demanding a face-to-face debate between PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
The political temperature in India has surged as the Congress party launched a fierce counter-attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following a series of pointed remarks directed at the Leader of the Opposition. In a bold move, Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has announced that he will seek cabinet approval to pass a formal resolution demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi engage in a face-to-face debate with Rahul Gandhi.
Saikia Slams BJP for Hypocrisy
Speaking to ANI, Debabrata Saikia accused the BJP of failing to practice the values it publicly promotes. He asserted that instead of offering unsolicited advice, the Prime Minister should step forward to defend his government's policies and explain the current state of the nation to the citizens.
"They (BJP) don't practice what they preach. I will ask the cabinet to pass a resolution asking the Prime Minister to come for a debate with our leader Rahul Gandhi and tell the nation what is going on and defend his govt's policies," Saikia stated.
The '7-Point Advice' That Sparked the Row
The confrontation was triggered by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer a "seven-point advice" to Rahul Gandhi. Rijiju suggested that if these pointers were followed, the Congress party might see an increase in its parliamentary strength.
The seven points outlined by Kiren Rijiju include:
- Spending more time within India and avoiding frequent "secret foreign vacations."
- Following Indian tradition by respecting seniors and gaining wisdom from elders.
- Ceasing meetings with individuals who hold "anti-India" agendas and stopping the promotion of such views.
- Ending "deep hatred" toward the BJP, RSS, and PM Modi, treating the BJP as a political opponent rather than an enemy.
- Taking Parliament more seriously and allowing MPs to engage meaningfully in debates.
- Showing respect for the Constitution of India and its constitutional institutions.
- Dismantling dynastic politics to allow the Congress party to function as a truly democratic entity.
Support for Rijiju’s Stance
The BJP's narrative found support from Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey, who argued that the Congress party is in desperate need of a fundamental shift in its political strategy. Dubey echoed Rijiju's sentiments, suggesting that simply raising slogans or discussing issues like GST and "vote theft" would not be enough to bring the Congress back to power.
Dubey emphasized that Rahul Gandhi needs to maintain discipline and spend more time on the ground in India if he hopes to regain electoral ground.
The Original Challenge: 'Desh-Drohi' Claims
This entire exchange follows a provocative challenge issued by Rahul Gandhi himself. The Congress leader had dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a face-to-face debate, claiming he could prove a shocking allegation within just five minutes.
Gandhi asserted that he could demonstrate that the Prime Minister is a 'desh-drohi' (traitor) and is being controlled by US President Donald Trump. Gandhi further challenged the PM to choose any judge for the debate, confidently stating, "I guarantee the nation that Narendra Modi cannot sit before me."