'Islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism': Kiren Rijiju hits out at Rahul Gandhi over 'foreign help' remark

NEW DELHI: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday slammed Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of becoming PM with “foreign help”.Taking a swipe at Rahul, Rijiju compared his remarks to Islamic fundamentalists speaking about secularism, separatists carrying Indian flags and anarchists displaying the Constitution.In a post on X, the minister said, “It's the same as islamic fundamentalists talking about secularism, separatists holding Indian flags & anarchists showing Constitution book. Pushing agendas of India's enemies yet accusing others of foreign support is self-ridiculing.”“Top level debates are done between matured people,” he added.Rijiju's remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on the Prime Minister, alleging that he had become PM because of foreign support and continued to remain in office with such backing.Earlier in a post on X, the Congress leader alleged that

PM Modi

's financial system was controlled and supported by foreign interests and that foreign social media platforms backed him.“Mr Modi, stop lying to this nation,” Rahul said.“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,” he added.

Rahul also challenged the Prime Minister to an open debate on the allegations, saying he would not accept the challenge.“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,” he said.

Rahul's remarks were in response to PM Modi's 'Ekta Diwas' speech, in which the Prime Minister accused the opposition of becoming an “obstructionist force” (Avrodh Paksh) instead of a constructive opposition.PM Modi also warned against forces allegedly working to divide the country and said social media was being used to spread rumours and damage India's image.In an apparent reference to Rahul's foreign visits, PM Modi also questioned whom some people were meeting abroad and alleged that anti-India forces were supporting those speaking against the country's interests.“Due to the frustration of more than a decade, these people have now come out in the open. Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Whom are the anti-India forces supporting? Who is speaking the language of India’s enemies? We will have to recognise all these patterns,” he said.