New Delhi, Nov 2: Hitting back at the Prime Minister over his remarks targeting the Opposition, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused PM Modi of becoming and remaining in power with foreign help.

He also alleged that India's financial system was controlled and supported by foreigners, and challenged him to an open debate over the claims.

In a post on X, the Congress MP wrote, “Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation. You became PM because of foreign help. You remain PM because of foreign help. Your financial system is fully controlled and supported by foreigners. Foreign social media fully backs you.”

Gandhi also claimed that the Prime Minister will not accept his debate challenge as he is "terrified" of what he know about him.

“I challenge you to an open debate about this. Any stage, any time. Come if you have the guts. You won't dare, because you are terrified of what I know about you,” the post read.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Modi criticised the Opposition while addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district of Gujarat.

The Prime Minister said that the Opposition's role in a democracy was to oppose government policies but alleged that it had instead become an obstructionist force.

He further alleged that certain forces were conspiring to divide the country and raised questions about their interactions and alleged support from abroad.

“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)… Driven by frustration and disappointment, these people are creating obstacles in the path of the country’s development. 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,” PM Modi said.

“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… 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… 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 said. (ANI)