'Don't confuse Modi ji': Rahul Gandhi renews challenge to PM for open debate on SIR

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a public debate, asking Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convince him to accept the invitation. The fresh appeal came a day after Shah challenged Gandhi to raise his objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Parliament and offered a dedicated discussion if the Congress formally sought one.

Rejecting Shah's suggestion, Rahul Gandhi said urged the Home Minister to persuade Modi to face him in an open debate.

"Amit Shah ji, don't confuse Modi ji. Just convince him to have an open debate with me. Any platform, any time. Don't be afraid," he wrote in a post on X.

The exchange comes amid a political row over SIR, with the Congress and other opposition parties questioning the exercise and the BJP defending the electoral roll revision process.

Amit Shah offers special Parliament session for SIR debate

Addressing a rally in Karnal, Haryana, on Thursday as part of the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign, Shah said the government was ready to discuss SIR in Parliament if the Congress formally requested a special session.

He challenged Rahul Gandhi to present his objections in the House, accusing him of avoiding parliamentary discussions and repeatedly disrupting proceedings.

"If you (Rahul Gandhi) wish to engage in a responsible discussion, if your concerns hold truth, substance, and logic, then come and discuss them inside Parliament. Let's face each other head-on! But you won't be able to handle the answers; as always, you will just run away," Shah said.

The Home Minister said Parliament was the appropriate forum for elected representatives to debate public issues. He also asked Gandhi to write to the Prime Minister if he wanted a dedicated discussion on the electoral roll revision exercise.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier sought public support for debate

Rahul Gandhi had previously challenged Modi to a public debate, saying he was ready to face the Prime Minister on any platform and at any time.

He later sought public opinion through a poll on X, asking young Indians whether they wanted to see the two leaders debate. He also tagged senior BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging them to persuade Modi to accept the challenge.

His latest appeal to Amit Shah follows those attempts to build public support for a face-to-face debate with the Prime Minister.

Opposition parties continue protests against SIR

Meanwhile, opposition parties have continued their protests against SIR, alleging that the exercise could result in eligible voters being removed from electoral rolls.

The BJP has defended the revision process, while opposition parties have raised concerns over safeguards to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.

Separately, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a protest against SIR at Rajendra Maidan in Kochi on November 7.