Congress dismisses Advani's challenge to TV debate

Dismissing the challenge of BJP's prime ministerial candidate to a live TV debate with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress on Friday said such debates do not take place in parliamentary democracy.

"In parliamentary democracy such debates do not take place. It is only in the Presidential system...He (Advani) has perhaps been influenced by the recent presidential elections in the US..." party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

"Advani ought to answer why he forgot this all these years. This has not been a practice since 1952," Sharma said.

Taking a dig at the Leader of Opposition, Sharma said, "He has been a PM- in-waiting for a long time. He will continue to wait in perpetuity. He has no chance of becoming the PM in this lifetime...."

The Congress leader said issues are being debated in the country and will continue to be debated in every constituency and foray in the run-up to the elections.