India, Nov. 2 -- Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate, accusing him of coming to power and remaining in office with "foreign support". The call came in response to PM Modi's claims of certain "forces trying to divide the country" after the Opposition staged a protest against alleged electoral irregularities at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.

The Opposition has staged massive protests in recent months over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. However, the Election Commission and the government have rejected the allegations. Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah challenged Rahul Gandhi to a debate on the...