Debate with PM: Rahul Gandhi should refrain from boasting, Smriti Irani

New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who did not have courage to contest in Amethi should refrain from boasting that he could debate with someone having the stature of PM Modi, NDTV reported.

Irani was responding to Rahul Gandhi’s acceptance to have a debate with the prime minister on issues that matter in the polls.

The Amethi constituency had been a traditional bastion of the Gandhi family which Rahul Gandhi represented since 2004 until his defeat in 2019.

The Congress leader last week has chosen Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency, which his mother Sonia Gandhi held for the last two decades.

Irani responding to Rahul Gandhi’s challenge for debate said: "Firstly, the person who does not have the courage to contest against a normal BJP worker in his so-called castle, should refrain from boasting. Secondly, who wants to sit at level with PM Modi and have a debate, I want to ask him if he is a PM candidate of the INDI alliance?"

Rahul Gandhi accepted the proposal for a public debate extended by Justice (Retd) Madan B Lokur, Justice (Retd) Ajit P Shah, and journalist N Ram.

Accepting the challenge, Rahul Gandhi said that Kharge also agreed that a debate would enable people ‘make an informed choice’.

Rahul further said: ‘It is also critical to put to rest any unsubstantiated allegations attributed to our respective parties. As the principal parties fighting the election, the public deserve to hear from their leaders directly.

‘The The former Congress chief accepted the invitation saying thathe is "100 per cent" ready to take on PM Modi in the debate but claimed the Prime Minister would not agree.