Amethi: Union Minister Smriti Irani took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he agreed to engage in a public debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on crucial election issues. She questioned, if Rahul Gandhi was the INDIA bloc’s prime ministerial candidate and whether he could debate with a person of stature like PM Modi.
Irani, who is contesting from Amethi, criticized Rahul Gandhi for not having the courage to contest against a regular BJP worker in his own constituency. She questioned Rahul’s readiness to debate with PM Modi, implying that it was a mismatch in stature. Irani’s remarks came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s acceptance of an invitation for a public debate with PM Modi, facilitated by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, former High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, and senior journalist N Ram.
Rahul Gandhi, contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli seats, stated that such a debate would enable voters to understand their respective visions and make informed choices. He indicated that either he or Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge would participate.
In the meantime, Irani criticized Kharge for questioning the voter turnout data in the Lok Sabha elections and launched a scathing attack on the Congress. She condemned Congress for proposing policies like wealth redistribution and reversing the decision on the Ram Temple, labeling them as national issues that concern every citizen.
Irani’s remarks came after Kharge expressed concerns over discrepancies in the voting data released by the Election Commission, stating that it undermined the Commission’s credibility. She stated that Kharge’s views echoed those of Rahul Gandhi, implying a lack of seriousness towards national politics.
