No Rahul Gandhi Vs Narendra Modi Public Debate As BJP Deputes Yuva Morcha Leader

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t engage in a public debate with Rahul Gandhi, as wished by two retired judges and a senior journalist. Instead, the BJP on Monday deputed its Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM) vice-president Abhinav Prakash to take on the Congress leader.

In a letter addressed to Rahul, Karnataka BJP leader Tejasvi Surya said that it will be “an enriching debate between a political scion and a common youngster.”

The announcement comes two days after Rahul accepted the invite of former judges Madan B Lokur, Ajit P Shah and veteran journalist N Ram for an open debate with Modi.

BJP turned down the Modi versus Rahul debate proposal stating that the Congress leader did not have credentials even within his own party and hence, the Prime Minister had no reason to debate with him.

“Dear Rahul Gandhi Ji, BJYM has deputed Abhinav Prakash, National Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha, as BJYM’s representative for the upcoming debate. We eagerly anticipate your acceptance, setting the stage for what promises to be a historic debate between the scion of a political dynasty which has ruled India for the longest time since independence and a commoner representing the new India of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” Surya wrote.

Soon after Rahul accepted the challenge, saying that either he or Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will participate in the debate “if and when” the Prime Minister agrees, BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani had questioned whether Rahul was a PM candidate.

Surya was also vocal.

“Who is Rahul Gandhi that PM Modi should debate with him? Rahul Gandhi isn’t even the PM candidate of the Congress Party, let alone the INDI Alliance. Let him first get himself declared as Congress’ PM candidate, state he will take accountability for his party’s defeat, and then invite PM for a debate. Until then, we are ready to depute our BJYM spokespersons to take him on in any debate,” Surya had said.

Earlier on Monday, Congress mocked PM Modi saying he has not yet “mustered the courage” to accept the invitation for a debate with Rahul.

Their response to BJP’s decision not to agree to Modi debating with Rahul is awaited.