New Delhi: Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s invitation to PM Modi for a debate, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday said that the party has nominated Yuva Morcha national vice-president Abhinav Prakash, a leader hailing from the Pasi community from Rae Bareli, who teaches economics at Ramjas College.
In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Surya, the president of BJP’s youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, said that the debate will prove to be promising as it will be between the scion of the Gandhi family and a commoner.
“As the youth wing of the BJP – the world’s largest political party – we recognise the critical need for open and active dialogue about our party’s vision and policies, particularly those shaping the future of our nation. In this regard, it is my pleasure to nominate Shri Abhinav Prakash, National Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, as the BJYM's representative for the upcoming debate,” the letter by Surya read.
Dear Rahul Gandhi Ji,
— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 13, 2024
BJYM has deputed Sri @Abhina_Prakash, our VP, to debate with you.
He is a young and educated leader from the Pasi (SC) community, who are around 30%, in Rae Baraeli.
It will be an enriching debate between a political scion and a common youngster who… pic.twitter.com/8FarSmqrQe
Prakash, Surya said in his letter, is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and an assistant professor of economics at Delhi University’s Ramjas College, with previous teaching stints at SRCC. “... his profound understanding of social, economic, and political dynamics is poised to enrich the debate significantly. Additionally, he is from a Dalit caste, Pasi, which makes up a significant proportion of over 30% of the scheduled caste population in Raebareli. This is the very constituency your family has long represented and where you are a current electoral contender,” the letter added.
Speaking to reporters, Prakash said that he was looking forward to this debate. “I am from Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi and his family have represented the state for so long. I hope he doesn't run away from the debate the way he ran away from Amethi, otherwise who knows he will have to run away from Raebareli as well, in the next elections,” Prakash said.
In response, Youth Congress president Srinivas BV said that he has deputed Pankaj Shrivastava to debate with Surya on issues which matter the most to the people of India. “It will be an enriching debate between a hatemonger and an ordinary man. I hope you will not open the Emergency Exit Gate before the debate ends,” Srinivas’s tweet read.