‘Come to Parliament’: FM Sitharaman, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta respond to Rahul Gandhi’s debate challenge

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta have challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to debate in Parliament, after the Congress leader demanded a public face-off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sitharaman questioned why Gandhi was seeking a debate on social media when Parliament was already the appropriate forum. Gupta followed with an “open challenge”, asking him to come to the House and debate.

“Rahul Gandhi Ji, OPEN CHALLENGE. Come to Parliament. Let’s debate!” Gupta wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.

The Delhi Chief Minister also invoked the Emergency imposed in 1975 and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to attack the Congress’s political legacy.

“1975: Your grandmother imposed the Emergency. Opposition jailed. Press gagged. Democracy strangled,” she wrote, referring to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

On the 1984 riots, Gupta said Rahul Gandhi’s father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was in office when thousands of Sikhs were killed in Delhi.

“Congress still cannot escape that bloodstained legacy,” she added.

Gupta also referred to the Congress’s electoral defeats in 2014, 2019 and 2024, saying: “The fourth is already your biggest nightmare.”

“Bhaagna mat! Parliament of India, New Delhi. No visa required,” she wrote.
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‘Demanding answers also carries an obligation to hear them’: Sitharaman

Sitharaman had earlier responded to Gandhi’s demand that Modi choose a venue for a public debate, pointing out that Parliament was already available for such an exchange.

The Finance Minister also referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s offer to hold a special session of Parliament to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

She questioned why Gandhi did not show the same enthusiasm for a debate in the House as he did for challenges on social media.

Sitharaman further accused the Congress and INDIA bloc members of walking out when the government responded to their allegations and of disrupting parliamentary proceedings.

“Demanding answers also carries an obligation to hear them,” she said, urging Gandhi to present specific allegations backed by evidence and remain in the House to hear the government’s response.

She also criticised a recent “mock Parliament” organised by the Congress at the residence of the party president, saying the real Parliament deserved at least as much attention.

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What prompted the debate challenge?

Gandhi had challenged Modi to a public debate over allegations that the Opposition was anti-national and had links with foreign forces.

“24 hours have passed, Modi ji. I challenged you. You say that the opposition is anti-national. Pick any stage, any venue, and debate me,” Gandhi wrote on X.

He asked the Prime Minister to discuss who was anti-national and what alleged connections with foreign forces were involved, adding: “Do it as soon as possible- don't be afraid.”

The exchanges have drawn responses from two senior BJP leaders, both of whom have asked Gandhi to take his challenge to Parliament.