New Delhi, Nov 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday challenged Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to debate in Parliament after he called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in a public debate on allegations of anti-national activities and alleged links with foreign forces.
Taking to social media platform X, Gupta issued an open challenge to Gandhi, asking him to come to Parliament and engage in a debate. She also invoked the Emergency imposed in 1975 and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to question the Congress party's political legacy.
"Rahul Gandhi Ji, OPEN CHALLENGE. Come to Parliament. Let's debate!" Gupta wrote.
Referring to the Emergency, she said Gandhi's grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had imposed it in 1975, during which Opposition leaders were jailed, the press was gagged and democratic freedoms were curtailed.
She also referred to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, stating that thousands of innocent Sikhs were massacred in Delhi when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. Gupta said the Congress continued to face questions over its legacy in connection with the violence.
Highlighting the Congress party's electoral setbacks in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 general elections, the Delhi Chief Minister said the party had suffered three consecutive defeats and described the prospect of a fourth term for the BJP-led government as a major challenge for the Congress.
"Bhaagna mat! Parliament of India, New Delhi. No visa required," she added in her post, challenging Gandhi to participate in the debate.
Gupta's remarks followed Gandhi's demand for a public debate with Prime Minister Modi. The Congress leader had asked the Prime Minister to select any venue or platform to discuss allegations that the Opposition was anti-national and had links with foreign forces.
In his post on X, Gandhi said 24 hours had passed since he issued the challenge and urged Modi to respond.
"You say that the opposition is anti-national. Pick any stage, any venue, and debate me. Who is the anti-national? Who has connections with foreign forces? And what kind of connections are they? Do it as soon as possible—don't be afraid," Gandhi wrote.
Sitharaman also asks Gandhi to debate in Parliament
Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also criticised Gandhi's demand for a public debate with the Prime Minister, arguing that Parliament was the appropriate forum for such an exchange.
In a post on X, Sitharaman told Gandhi that, as Leader of Opposition, he already had a platform to raise questions and debate the government's position.
"Rahul ji, you ask the Prime Minister to choose a venue for a debate. There is already one: Parliament, where you happen to be the LoP," she said.
The Finance Minister also referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's offer to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Questioning the Opposition's participation in parliamentary proceedings, Sitharaman asked Gandhi to demonstrate the same enthusiasm for debates inside the House as he did while issuing challenges on social media.
The exchanges reflect the intensifying political confrontation between the BJP and Congress over allegations concerning electoral processes, national security and the functioning of democratic institutions.
