"56-inch chest not mustered courage to accept invitation to public debate": Congress' Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi [India], May 12 : Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took a hit on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for not accepting the invitation to a public debate requested by two former judges and a senior journalist through a letter sent to both the Prime Minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Taking to his social media handle, Jairam Ramesh posted on X, "Day 1 of Rahul Gandhi's letter accepting an invitation to debate the Prime Minister. The 56-inch chest has not yet mustered the courage to accept the invitation."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accepted the invitation to the public debate with Prime Minister Modi on Saturday.
Former Judges Madan B Lokur, Ajit P Shah, and senior journalist N Ram wrote a letter inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a public debate on the Lok Sabha Election.
The debate would give a proper response to the allegations and challenges that either side had put up against each other.
Replying to the invitation, Rahul said on X that such a debate "would be a positive initiative for the major parties to present their vision to the country from one platform for a healthy democracy".
"Congress welcomes this initiative and accepts the invitation for discussion. The country also expects the Prime Minister to take part in this dialogue," he said.
In their letter to the leaders, the former judges and journalists said that it would be great if the public listened to their responses and this is the reason a public debate would set a great precedent, not just by educating the public but also by projecting the true image of a healthy and vibrant democracy.
Madan B Lokur is a former judge of the Supreme Court, while AP Shah is a former chief justice of the Delhi High Court. N Ram is a senior journalist and the former editor-in-chief of The Hindu.