Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks targeting the Opposition, accusing him of relying on foreign support to become and remain the Prime Minister. Gandhi also challenged PM Modi to an open debate, saying he could face him on any platform and at any time.PM Modi attacked Opposition during his Rashtriya Ekta Diwas address at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of abandoning its democratic responsibility of questioning government policies and instead becoming an obstructionist force. He also alleged that certain forces were conspiring to divide the country, questioned their alleged links with anti-India elements abroad and warned against the use of social media to spread rumours and tarnish India's image.Responding to PM Modi's remarks in a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation.

You became PM because of foreign help. You remain PM because of foreign help."He further alleged that India's financial system was fully controlled and supported by foreigners and claimed that foreign social media platforms backed the Prime Minister. "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 wrote.The Congress leader also questioned PM Modi's willingness to participate in such a debate, claiming that the Prime Minister was afraid of what he knew about him. "You won't dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you," he added.WHAT PM MODI SAID ABOUT THE OPPOSITIONDuring his address at the event marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai, PM Modi said the Opposition's responsibility in a democracy was to question and oppose government policies but alleged that it had instead turned into an obstructionist force."In a democracy, the responsibility of the Opposition is to oppose government policies, but it is our misfortune that the Opposition (virodh paksh) has become an obstructionist force (avrodh paksh)," PM Modi said.He accused the Opposition of creating hurdles in the country's development out of frustration and disappointment.

He also alleged that it was undermining the dignity and sanctity of the Constitution."This is not opposition; this is obstruction. They have made this their political agenda.

They are engaged in undermining the dignity and sanctity of the Constitution," he said.PM RAISES QUESTIONS OVER 'FOREIGN LINKS'PM Modi also said that certain forces were conspiring to divide the country and called on people to recognise and confront such attempts."Certain forces are continuously engaged in conspiracies to divide the country. After more than a decade of frustration and disappointment, these forces have now come out in the open," he said.The Prime Minister questioned who was secretly meeting whom abroad, which anti-India forces were supporting and who was speaking the language of India's enemies."Who is secretly meeting whom abroad?

Whom are anti-India forces supporting? Who is speaking the language of India's enemies?

We must recognise all these patterns and confront them together," PM Modi said.He also expressed concern over the alleged misuse of social media to spread rumours and damage India's image."Especially the way social media is being weaponised, rumours are being spread, and attempts are being made to tarnish India's image. The people of the country must come together to deal with these challenges," he added.- Ends