Like 'Islamic Fundamentalists Talking About Secularism,' Rijiju Attacks Rahul On 'Foreign Help' Charge On PM

Rahul Gandhi’s charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power with "foreign help" drew a sharp reply from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, deepening the latest round of attacks between the BJP and the Congress. Rijiju likened Gandhi’s remarks to "Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism" and rejected the Congress leader’s demand for a public debate.

Rijiju said Gandhi was pushing the agenda of India’s enemies and mocked his challenge. "Top-level debates are done between matured people," Rijiju said on Tuesday.

The exchange follows comments by Modi last week and Gandhi’s counterattack over alleged foreign backing. The latest remarks have widened a political fight over foreign influence, foreign travel, social media and what both sides frame as threats to India’s interests.

Modi's Foreign-Help Charge

The latest clash began with Modi’s remarks last week against what he described as attempts to divide the country. He alleged that "certain forces are continuously engaged in conspiracies to divide the country".

In a veiled reference to Gandhi’s foreign trips, Modi asked: "Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Whom are anti-India forces supporting?" Those remarks set off Gandhi’s response and pushed the dispute into a direct confrontation over alleged foreign support.

Gandhi then turned the charge back on Modi. He accused the prime minister of becoming Prime Minister with foreign help and continuing in office with the backing of foreign forces.

Gandhi's Open Challenge

Gandhi escalated the dispute with a direct challenge to Modi. In his post, he wrote: "Your financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreigners. Foreign social media fully backs you. I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts," Gandhi said.

He framed the confrontation as a test of who had really benefited from "foreign help"—the Opposition or Modi. The challenge moved the exchange from indirect accusations to an open political dare.

That challenge became the immediate trigger for Rijiju’s response on Tuesday. The minister dismissed the idea of such a debate even as he attacked Gandhi’s allegations.

Rijiju's Counterattack

Rijiju hit back hard on Tuesday. He accused Gandhi of "pushing agendas of India's enemies" and said the Congress leader was ridiculing himself by accusing others of receiving foreign support.

He also used stronger language to reject Gandhi’s argument. "It's same as Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism, separatists holding Indian flags and anarchists showing Constitution book," Rijiju said.

The minister paired that attack with his dismissal of Gandhi’s demand for a face-off. "Top-level debates are done between matured people," Rijiju said, rejecting the call for an open debate over who received foreign backing.

Modi's Obstructionist Warning

The broader context came from Modi’s Gujarat visit on Saturday, where he accused obstructionist forces of trying to divide the country. He also alleged that social media was being used to spread rumours at a time of external pressure.

"When the country was seeking solutions to external challenges, some forces within the country were also creating instability by spreading lies and rumours. But the countrymen stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation," the Prime Minister said.

Modi then sharpened his attack on the Opposition. "It is our misfortune that at this time in the country, the opposition has turned into an Avrodh Paksh rather than Virodh Paksh. In their frustration, these people are standing as obstacles in the way of the country's development. This is not opposition; this is obstruction," he said.