November 3: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power and continues to remain in office with foreign support. Taking a swipe at Gandhi, Rijiju compared his remarks to “Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism” and accused him of promoting an agenda that benefits India's enemies.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Rijiju responded to Gandhi's allegations about foreign support. He also dismissed the Congress leader's challenge to hold an open debate with the Prime Minister, saying that “top-level debates are done between matured people”.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that Prime Minister Modi became Prime Minister with foreign help and continued to remain in power because of support from foreign forces. Gandhi claimed that India's financial system was controlled and supported by foreigners and that foreign social media platforms were backing the Prime Minister. He challenged Modi to an open debate on the allegations, inviting him to any platform at any time.
The political exchange began after Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Gujarat last week, criticised the Opposition by calling it an “Avrodh Paksh” (obstructionist faction) rather than a “Virodh Paksh” (Opposition). Modi alleged that certain forces were conspiring to divide the country and questioned who was secretly meeting whom abroad.
He also accused the Opposition of obstructing the country's development and spreading rumours and misinformation through social media.
Rahul Gandhi subsequently turned the allegations against the Prime Minister, accusing him of relying on foreign support to remain in power. Rijiju's latest remarks have further intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress.
