‘You became PM with foreign help’: Rahul Gandhi challenges Modi to debate

Rahul Gandhi on Monday, 2 November, accused PM Narendra Modi of becoming and remaining prime minister through foreign help, and challenged him to an open debate. In a post on X, the Leader of the Opposition said Modi's financial system was ‘fully controlled and supported by foreigners’ and that foreign social media backed him. ‘I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts,’ Gandhi wrote, adding that Modi would not dare because he was ‘terrified’ of what Gandhi knows about him.

The Congress leader’s remarks came two days after PM Modi, addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar on 31 October, accused the Opposition of becoming an obstructionist force and questioned whom its leaders were meeting abroad. Modi alleged that some forces were attempting to destabilise the country and that anti-India elements were being supported. No response from the PM to Gandhi’s debate challenge has been reported as of Monday evening.

Update, 2 November 2026: Times Now's report on 2 November confirms all earlier outlets' versions. It adds no new fact, only presenting a video-led brief of Rahul Gandhi's attack and challenge, with less detail on PM Modi's 31 October speech.