Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the members of the US Congress for coming together to celebrate their country`s ties with India, saying there must be a contest of ideas at home but people must also come together as one while speaking for the nation.

Modi`s remarks in his address to a joint session of the US Congress on Thursday came against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi`s frequent swipes at his government during his visits abroad, which the ruling BJP has often projected as the opposition leader`s bid to malign the country from foreign soil to target the central government.