Rahul Gandhi urges PM Modi to open debate on ‘foreign aid’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the ‘Save Democracy’ march against alleged election irregularities and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1, 2026. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (Nov 2, 2026) challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate, claiming that it was with “foreign help” that Mr Modi became the Prime Minister and continues to hold the position.

The Congress leader’s call came after the prime minister accused the opposition of accepting foreign aid to destabilize the country.

“Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation. You became Prime Minister because of foreign aid. You remain Prime Minister because of foreign aid. Your financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreigners. Foreign social media fully supports you,” Mr Gandhi said in a post on X.

“I invite you to have an open debate about this. At any stage, at any time. Come if you dare. You dare not because you are afraid of what I know about you,” he added.

He also shared a screenshot of a media report accusing the prime minister that obstructionist forces were trying to divide the country and that social media was being used to spread rumours.

“When the country was looking for solutions to external problems, some forces inside the country were also creating instability by spreading lies and rumours. But the countrymen stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation,” Modi said in Gujarat on Saturday (October 31).

“It is our misfortune that at this time the opposition in the country has turned into an avrodh paksh (destructive force) rather than a virodh paksh (opposing party). These people in their frustration stand as obstacles in the way of the country’s development. This is not opposition, this is obstruction,” the prime minister said, adding that “these people were involved in crushing the constitution”.

Mr. Modi also reviewed the opposition leader’s foreign trips without naming him directly.

“Because of the frustration of more than a decade, these people have now come out in the open. Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Who is being supported by anti-India forces? Who is speaking the language of India’s enemies? We will have to recognize all these patterns,” the Prime Minister said.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 22:02 IST