RAHUL RENEWS DEBATE CHALLENGE TO PM MODI OVER ‘DIMAGI NAXALS’ REMARK

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday renewed his open debate challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over foreign influence allegations, accusing him of calling opponents Naxals after his ‘Dimagi Naxals’ remarks.

In a post on X, addressed directly to the CRPF, Gandhi wrote:

 “Dear @crpfindia, Your faces said it all: you didn’t buy the PM’s lies. He called us Naxals. My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place. My guarantee: after the debate, the PM won’t have the guts to stand in front of a single jawan again.”

WHAT TRIGGERED THE ROW

The remarks came a day after PM Modi celebrated Diwali with CRPF personnel at Karanpur camp in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday.

Addressing the jawans, PM Modi said:

“Naxalites have been eliminated, but the threat is not over yet. Armed Naxalites have disappeared from the forests, but ‘Dimagi Naxals’ have taken control of several organisations.”

The Prime Minister said these ideological Naxals have infiltrated several organisations and political parties and are inciting people against the Constitution and democracy.

This is the second time in seven days that Gandhi has challenged Modi to a debate.

On 2 November, Gandhi had alleged that Modi became and remained Prime Minister with “foreign help” and that India’s financial system was controlled by foreign forces.

He had then said:

 “I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts.”

BJP HITS BACK

Reacting to Gandhi’s post, the BJP accused him of insulting the armed forces and doing politics on Diwali.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the venue for debate already exists — Parliament — and accused Gandhi of running away from parliamentary debates.

BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said:

 “719 CRPF jawans lost their lives in Naxal attacks between 1987-2025. Casualty has come down to 0 in the last one year. Don’t insult their sacrifice.”

CONGRESS STAND

Congress leaders said the Prime Minister used a sacred occasion with jawans to label the Opposition as anti-national.

The party said if the Prime Minister has proof of foreign influence, he should debate and present it in an open forum.

WHAT NEXT

No debate date has been announced so far. The issue is likely to be raised in the Winter Session of Parliament.

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