Rahul Gandhi Renews Debate Challenge to PM Modi Over ‘Dimagi Naxal’ Remark, Says ‘My Challenge Stands’

November 9, 2026

New Delhi: Opposition leader in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate after he referred to Rahul as ‘Dimagi Naxal’ during his visit to Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on Diwali.

The senior Congress leader said that CRPF personnel did not believe the Prime Minister’s false claims and challenged him to an open debate about who is anti nacional and who is being controlled by foreign forces.

Dear @crpfindia,

Your faces said it all: you didn’t buy the PM’s lies.

He called us Naxals.

My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place.

My guarantee: after the debate, the PM won’t have the guts to stand in front of a single jawan again.

प्रिय @crpfindia के जवानों,

आपके चेहरों ने सब बता दिया – आपको प्रधानमंत्री के झूठ पर भरोसा नहीं।

उन्होंने हमें नक्सली कहा।

मेरी चुनौती क़ायम है। वो मुझसे बहस करें – देशद्रोही कौन है और विदेशी ताक़तों के इशारे पर कौन चल रहा है। कोई भी समय, किसी भी जगह।

मेरी गारंटी: उस बहस के बाद प्रधानमंत्री में एक भी जवान के सामने खड़े होने की हिम्मत नहीं होगी।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 9, 2026

In a post on X, Rahul wrote, “Dear @crpfindia, Your faces said it all: you didn’t buy the PM’s lies. He called us Naxals. My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place.” Rahul wrote on X.

“I promise the PM will never have the courage to face even one jawan after the debate.”

Rahul Gandhi is the Member of Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul’s Challenge Comes After PM Modi’s Remark

Rahul’s challenge comes a day after PM Modi lauded the CRPF personnel for eliminating Naxalites in the Bastar region but warned about ‘Dimagi Naxals’.

The term was created by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech in August this year. He uses it to describe those who he accuses of being pro-violence to push their agenda.

During his address on Sunday the PM said, “While armed Naxalites have been wiped out from the forests, ‘Dimagi Naxals’ have taken control of several organisations. Even today, they are inciting people against the country’s Constitution and democracy.”

“They have infiltrated political parties and many organisations. These people must be identified and defeated so that the country remains safe.”

Opposition Claims Modi Government Using Slurs To Undermine Democratic Dissent

The opposition has accused the Modi government of using slurs such as Dimagi Naxal to undermine democratic dissent.

The Congress party have challenged the Prime Minister to take up Rahul Gandhi’s open debate offer but the BJP have claimed that the former Congress president does not want to debate in Parliament.

Leaders and ministers from the BJP including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have said that the Leader of the Opposition needs to be serious and responsible and engage in Parliaments debate.

This latest exchange has increased the tension between the Congress and BJP.