If PM not willing, he can ask Sonia for a debate: Advani

With prime minister Manmohan Singh refusing his offer for a television debate, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Saturday said that if he was not willing, he could ask Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the same.

"I have told the PM several times that it would be so nice that like in foreign countries (US presidential debate), we should also have a debate. Instead of a BJP public meeting, the Election Commission could organise a meeting (for the debate)," Party's prime ministerial candidate Advani told an election rally here.

"If the prime minister is not willing (for a debate), he can ask the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi)," he said.    

On the lines of US presidential debate, Advani had earlier this week asked the Prime Minister for a TV debate to help people judge who was the better prime ministerial
candidate.  Reacting to this, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "the BJP was too impressed with the US system".

Some of the Congress members have opposed such a debate, saying it was more suited to countries having a presidential form of government.