BJP renews challenge for Manmohan-Advani debate

Renewing its demand for a public debate between the prime ministerial candidates of the ruling UPA and opposition NDA, the two main claimants to power in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP on Wednesday wondered why the challenge had not not been accepted by Congress.

Renewing its demand for a public debate between the prime ministerial candidates of the ruling UPA and opposition NDA, the two main claimants to power in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP on Wednesday wondered why the challenge had not not been accepted by Congress."Why such reluctance? After all, BJP and Congress spokespersons debate and lock horns with each other on the numerous TV channels every day," Ravishanker Prasad, a BJP spokesman, told reporters.

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The BJP had demanded a public debate between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and its own prime ministerial candidate L K Advani."A vibrant democracy like the US has a glorious tradition of such debates between rival presidential candidates. So, why is Congress not taking up the challenge? Why such reluctance?" he said.