Cong looking for support outside India, says PM

As the Congress stepped up personal attack on him on the Rafale issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pictured) on Tuesday accused the Congress of indulging in mud-slinging and said the party found this easier than debating issues such as development.

Though Modi, addressing a rally in Bhopal, did not specifically mention Rafale, the comments are seen as his counter to intensified Congress’ personal attack on him over the ~580-billion deal with France.

“Ever since I came into politics in 2001, you (Congress) have used all your strength to hurl abuses at me. There would not be a single abuse left in the dictionary now. However, the more mud you threw, the more the lotus bloomed,” he said.

Modi also accused the Congress of looking for support outside the country, saying, “Even if they get allies, the coalition will not be successful. So, they (Congress) are looking for support from outside India...Now, will some countries decide who will become the prime minister in India?” in an obvious reference to a tweet by former Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik, who had said Rahul Gandhi would be next prime minister of India.

On his part, Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi targeted the PM, saying Modi had claimed he wanted to be the country’s “chowkidar” (watchman). “But he put ~300 billion in Ambani’s pocket,” he alleged and asserted that more facts on the Rafale deal will be out soon.

“This is the beginning,” Gandhi told reporters on the last day of the two-day trip to his Lok Sabha constituency.

The Congress has been accusing the government of benefitting Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence Ltd from the Rafale deal.