'He called us Naxals': Rahul Gandhi hits back at PM Modi, renews debate challenge

"Your faces said it all: you didn't buy the PM's lies. He called us Naxals," Rahul Gandhi wrote

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Dimagi Naxal' remarks, and renewed his challenge to the Prime Minister for an open debate. "Your faces said it all: you didn't buy the PM's lies. He called us Naxals," he wrote.

Reiterating his challenge, the Congress leader said the Prime Minister should debate him on who was anti-national and who was controlled by foreign forces. "My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place," he said, adding, "My guarantee: after the debate, the PM won't have the guts to stand in front of a single jawan again."

Rahul's remarks came a day after PM Modi, while celebrating Diwali with security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, warned that the threat of Naxalism had not been completely eliminated. He alleged that although armed Naxalites had been wiped out from forests, "Dimagi Naxals" had infiltrated several organisations and political parties and were inciting people against the Constitution and democracy.

The Prime Minister also accused previous governments of restricting the freedom of security personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operations, saying his government had given them the authority to take necessary decisions.

The renewed exchange follows Rahul's earlier allegations that foreign forces had played a role in PM Modi becoming and remaining Prime Minister and continued to exercise influence over India's financial system. He had challenged Modi to an open debate on the issue, saying, "I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts. You won't dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you."