Retired SC, HC judges, journalist N Ram ask Modi & Rahul to ‘meaningfully’ duel in public debate

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prominent Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have been invited to a public debate to “meaningfully” respond to each other on the various charges thrown from campaign podiums.

The invitation has come from former Supreme Court justice Madan B. Lokur, former chief justice of Delhi High Court Ajit P. Shah and senior journalist N. Ram.

“We write to you as citizens of India who have performed our duties to the country in various capacities,” the letter said, adding that the proposal was non-partisan and “in the larger interest of every citizen”.

The letter noted that the general elections had reached a midpoint and both leaders in poll rallies had asked important questions “related to the core of our constitutional democracy”.

Don’t miss this invitation to a civil and meaningful debate on issues that matter in this election and beyond — an invitation from three of us that has been just delivered to the PMO and to Mr Rahul Gandhi’s Office. pic.twitter.com/vXnJQKAcug

— N. Ram (@nramind) May 9, 2024

“The Prime Minister has publicly challenged the Congress on reservations, Article 370 and wealth distribution. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has questioned the Prime Minister on possible mutilation of the Constitution, Electoral Bond schemes and the government’s response to China, and also challenged him to a public debate,” the letter read.

It noted that both sides had also questioned each other on their respective manifestos as well as their stand on the “constitutionally protected scheme of social justice”.

The three, however, added that the public had merely heard challenges and allegations from both sides but no “meaningful responses”.

They believed today’s digital world has unfortunately opened up room for “misinformation, misrepresentations and manipulation”. “In these circumstances, it is fundamentally important to ensure that the public is well-educated about all the aspects of the debate so that they can make an informed choice at the ballots — this is central to the effective exercise of our electoral franchise,” the invitation said.

They added that citizens, therefore, would hugely benefit if they directly heard from their political leaders “through a public debate on a non-partisan and non-commercial platform”.

Reiterating that this exercise would strengthen our democratic process, Justice (retd) Lokur, who personally signed the invite, said it would be ideal if the people heard the questions and answers from both sides.

A public debate, it said, would set a great precedent and project the “true image of a healthy and vibrant democracy” since the whole world was keenly watching the elections.

Trusting that the two leaders would consider this request, the invited concluded by saying that the venue, duration, moderation and format of the discourse could be on terms agreeable to both sides.