NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of tapping his personal mobile phone while reiterating his demand for a direct, one-on-one public debate on key national issues.
Speaking during an interactive online session on social media, Gandhi held up his mobile device and claimed that it contained proof against the Prime Minister, asserting that the Prime Minister was aware of the material due to alleged surveillance. However, the Congress leader did not present any technical evidence during the broadcast to substantiate the charge.
Surveillance Allegations and Debate Challenge
Friday’s remarks mark the seventh occasion in 12 days that the Congress leader has publicly challenged the Prime Minister to a direct debate, continuing a broader political confrontation over governance and national security:
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Recurring Surveillance Claims: Gandhi has previously alleged unauthorized surveillance of opposition figures, including claims in 2023 that his phone had been targeted using Pegasus spyware—allegations that the Union government has consistently refuted.
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Key Debate Topics: The Leader of the Opposition maintained that an open debate would settle questions surrounding electoral integrity, alleged foreign influence, and national security matters.
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Ruling Party Response: Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have dismissed the repeated debate challenges, arguing that the opposition avoids substantive legislative discussions. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman previously questioned the demand for an external debate venue, noting that Parliament remains the designated forum for national policy discussions.
