Guwahati | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take his proposed debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Parliament, asking him to stop mobilising people on the streets and instead use the legislature to raise questions against the government.

Responding to Gandhi’s demand for an open debate with the Prime Minister, Sarma said Parliament was the appropriate forum for such an exchange, provided the Opposition allowed the House to function without disruptions. “If you are a leader in the Opposition and you know that you’re one, so tell me where should a debate between you and the Prime Minister transpire, on the streets or in the Parliament?” Sarma said.

The Assam chief minister argued that a parliamentary debate could cover a wider range of political and governance issues. He referred to the Bofors controversy and the Bhopal gas tragedy, questioning why Gandhi was focusing primarily on foreign relations and allegations of foreign support for Modi.

Sarma urged the Congress leader to ensure that the proceedings remained peaceful, with the Speaker presiding over the debate and the Prime Minister given an opportunity to respond. “Kindly say that there will be no ruckus in the Parliament; you’ll begin the debate; PM will reply and a range of issues will be discussed,” he said.

Taking a swipe at Gandhi’s approach to political mobilisation, Sarma said India should not be compared with countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal. He also accused the Congress leader of applying different standards to electoral outcomes. Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Sarma alleged that Gandhi questioned the credibility of elections when the BJP won but accepted the results when Congress candidates emerged victorious.

“If Narendra Modi wins from Varanasi, EVM is malfunctioning; but when you win from Rai Bareli, it’s 100% gold,” he said.

Sarma advised Gandhi to move away from what he described as a confrontational political style and engage in parliamentary debate. “You can’t be an angry young man forever,” he remarked, urging the Opposition to allow people to follow parliamentary proceedings without disruption.

The exchange followed Gandhi’s Diwali message to Modi on Tuesday, in which he renewed his challenge to an open debate. In a video posted on social media, Gandhi said the Prime Minister could choose the venue and accused him of depending on foreign support to remain in power.

“Twenty-four hours have passed, Modi ji. I challenged you. You say that the opposition is anti-national. Pick any stage, any venue, and debate me,” Gandhi said. Gandhi had first issued the challenge on Monday, alleging that foreign assistance had played a role in Modi’s electoral success and continuation in office.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also asked Gandhi to participate in a parliamentary discussion, saying the government was ready to debate all issues, including the SIR exercise. Shah said the government was even prepared to convene a special session for the discussion.

The competing challenges have brought Parliament’s functioning, electoral roll revision and Gandhi’s allegations of foreign influence into sharper focus, with the ruling BJP and the Opposition insisting that the other side must agree to their preferred terms of debate.