Lok Sabha Election 2024: Smriti Irani Mocks Rahul Gandhi Asks 'Is He PM Candidate' To Debate With PM Modi

After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accepted the challenge to debate publicly over key issues, Union Minister Smriti Irani took a jibe at him asking 'is he a PM candidate?'. Smriti Irani asked Rahul Gandhi's stature to take on the Prime Minister who won elections twice with a massive mandate.

"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 the level with PM Modi and have a debate? I want to ask him if he is a PM candidate of the INDIA bloc," said Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019.

A day ago, Rahul Gandhi agreed to a public debate, adding that PM Modi will never dare to face him on a public platform. The invitation came from former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, former High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, and senior journalist N Ram.

Rahul Gandhi said such a debate "will help people understand our respective vision and enable them to make an informed choice". He also mentioned that either he himself or Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge would be happy to participate.

Meanwhile, Irani criticized Kharge for questioning the voter turnout data in the Lok Sabha elections and strongly criticized the Congress.

"Congress talked about counting the wealth of the people. It showed the way to take away half of the property of the citizens. Congress speaks of reversing the decision on Ram Temple. All of these issues are national issues and not just the PM, but every citizen has the right to have an opinion on them," she said.