Rahul raises pitch over Rafale deal
ATTACK Targets PM Modi over ‘chowkidar’ remark, BJP hits back
SAGWARA (DUNGARPUR): Addressing his second public meeting in Rajasthan under the Sankalp Yatra in Sagwara town of Dungarpur district, Congress president Rahul Gandhi reiterated his allegation on the Rafale deal and claimed it was taken away from state-owned Hindustan Aeronoutics Limited (HAL) to favour a private company.
Gandhi launched an attack on the Prime Minister, saying: “Gali gali mein shor hai, Hindustan ka chowkidar chor hai.” (There is a cry in every street that India’s watchman is a thief). His reference is to an earlier statement where Prime Minister Modi said he would serve as the country’s watchman to prevent corruption.
The BJP took strong objection to Gandhi’s slogan, saying it was “a black day” for Indian democracy. Rajasthan social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi said the level of language used against the PM was “unfortunate”.
“The prime minster has dedicated his life for the country. He left his home and family, and made the society and country his home. By using such words for him, the Congress president has
...using such words for him, the Congress president has insulted the entire country today. It will go down as a black day for the Indian democracy
ARUN CHATURVEDI, Rajasthan social justice and empowerment minister
insulted the entire country today. It will go down in the history as a black day for Indian democracy,” said Chaturvedi.
In his public address, Gandhi claimed that the UPA’s per aircraft deal was of ~526 crore, which became ~1,600 crore during Modi’s regime.
The NDA has not disclosed details of the price, but the UPA deal, initiated in 2012 was not a viable one, former defence minister Manohar Parrikar has previously said, implying that it would have never been closed and that, therefore, any comparison is moot. Indeed, the UPA was not able to close the deal till 2014, largely over discussions related to pricing and timing.
The NDA has said that the current deal also includes customised weaponry.
Gandhi also targeted the NDA government for demonetisation, which, according to him, hurt the poor, the flight of loan defaulters such as Vijay Mallya from India; the Goods and Services Tax (which he referred to as Gabbar Singh Tax, punning on the name of a legendary cinematic villain); and the agrarian crisis.
“Congress will form the next government, we will changes Gabbar Singh Tax to GST, and these five different rates are of corruption, we will change it to one single rate,” he promised.
Gandhi said Congress government in Rajasthan will focus on youth and providing them employment. “There will be no need to make pakodas,” he said, referring to a quote made by the Prime Minister some time back on how even someone making and selling pakodas (fritters) was a self-made entrepreneur.
Gandhi also referred to the perceived differences between Congress state president Sachin Pilot and All India Congress Committee general secretary Ashok Gehlot.
He said that a few days ago when he opened a newspaper he saw a photograph of Pilot riding a bike and Gehlot sitting behind.
“I told myself that the Congress will win the elections in Rajasthan, as it is now fighting elections unitedly,” he added.