New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on allegations of foreign connections, saying such discussions should be held between mature people.

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Rijiju compared Gandhi's remarks to “Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism” and accused the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha of advancing the interests of India's enemies.

“It's same as Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism, separatists holding Indian flags & anarchists showing Constitution book. Pushing agendas of India's enemies yet accusing others of foreign support is self-ridiculing. Top level debates are done between matured people,” Rijiju wrote in a post on X.

His remarks came after Gandhi alleged that Modi had become and continued as Prime Minister with foreign assistance, claiming that India's financial system was controlled and supported by foreign forces.

“Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation. You became PM because of foreign help. You remain PM because of foreign help. Your financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreigners. Foreign social media fully backs you,” Gandhi had said in an earlier post on X.

He had also challenged the Prime Minister to an open debate on the allegations.

“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,” Gandhi wrote.

Gandhi renewed the challenge on Tuesday, asking Modi to choose any venue for a public discussion on his allegation that the Opposition was being branded anti-national and had links with foreign forces. He also suggested that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat could be appointed as the judge for the debate.

“It's been 24 hours since I challenged you, Modi ji. You say the Opposition is anti-national. Choose any stage, any venue, and debate me on this - Who is anti-national? Who has connections with foreign forces? And what is the nature of those connections? Let's do this as soon as possible. Daro mat!” Gandhi wrote.

Proposing a format for the discussion, Gandhi said both leaders could sit across a table, with Modi free to choose the person who would judge the debate.

He also questioned why the Prime Minister had not filed a defamation case against him over the allegations of foreign connections, despite several such cases being filed over other issues.

“You make allegations against me, don’t you? Come forward. Everything will become clear. You’ve filed defamation cases against me over other matters. I think there are around 45 defamation cases against me. But on this issue of the debate, on the question of foreign connections, you haven’t filed a defamation case. Go ahead, file one. We’ll discuss that openly too. Happy Diwali, Modi ji,” Gandhi added.

The exchange follows Modi's criticism of the Opposition during his address at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of acting as an obstructionist force rather than performing its democratic role. He also alleged that certain forces were attempting to divide the country and questioned their interactions with people abroad and alleged backing from foreign forces.