LUCKNOW/HYDERABAD: A day after Union home minister Amit Shah dared the Opposition for a debate on the amended citizenship law (CAA), BSP chief Mayawati and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday accepted the challenge. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, threw down the gauntlet to BJP for a debate on ‘development’.Addressing a rally in Lucknow on Tuesday, Shah had challenged Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav to debate CAA with him.Putting out a tweet, Mayawati said: “BSP accepts Centre’s challenge to debate the controversial CAA/NRC/NPC, against which there have been protests across the country, especially by women and youth. The debate can take place on any platform and anywhere.”On his part, Owaisi said: “People from the media informed me that the Union home minister is ready to debate CAA with Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. I told them I am there, right? Let him debate with the dariwala (bearded man) first.”Talking to reporters in Hyderabad on Wednesday, he said, “Call Asaduddin Owaisi and Union home minister, and let’s debate. Let’s debate everything, including CAA, NPR (National Population Register) and NRC (National Register of Citizens).”Akhilesh, however, did not mention CAA while challenging BJP for a debate. “Let them determine the place and platform, we are ready. BJP is running away from a discussion on economy, jobs and demonetization,” he said while talking to reporters after paying tributes to socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra in Lucknow on Wednesday.I am telling BJP members to decide the venue and platform for a debate. They can also call their favourite channels and anchors, and debate on development),” he said.Lashing out at UP CM Yogi Adityanath , Akhilesh said, “The CM failed on governance, leave aside fulfilling aspirations of people. We are ready to debate on development. Don’t forget, we took the state to newer heights during our tenure.”