PM Modi has to answer, not ask questions, says Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi ridiculed Prime Minister Modi for conducting himself like an opposition leader while replying to debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address on Wednesday unless he has started practicing being in the Opposition. He wondered if Modi has forgotten that he is the Prime Minister now.

“He can talk about the Congress in public meetings. But in Parliament he has to answer questions. Don’t make accusations, don’t ask questions to the Opposition. There are vital issues of jobs, farmers, Rafale deal. He boasts of fighting corruption. He should answer a simple question - Rafale mein chori hui ya nahi?,” Rahul said talking to reporters in the Parliament House.

His mother and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi echoed similar sentiments: “The Prime Minister said nothing new. He is repeating old things, people are interested about their jobs, they want to know about their future.”

Rahul said: “We wanted to hear a prime ministerial speech. He spoke for more than one hour but it was only political rhetoric, sounded like campaign speech. Nothing on jobs, farmers, Andhra Pradesh (package).

“The issue about the farmers is fair price, loan-waiver, their future. But the Prime Minister talked about honey-bees and bamboo. Why did he not answer the questions on Rafale? Why did he change the contract? Did he seek CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) clearance? what is the price of the fighter jet? The Defence Minister says it is a state secret, we can’t reveal the price. This is the biggest deal, backbone of the Air Force and they won’t tell the nation what is the price. The Prime Minister is defending those who indulged in corruption in this deal.”

Rahul also tweeted with a short poem in Hindi: “Bahut lambi thee saaheb ki baat, Sadan me din ko bata a diya raat. Apani nakamiyon par daale parde, Afsos bhaashan se gaayab the desh ke mudde. Pradhan Mantriji chuppi kab todenge, Rafel deal par aakhir kab bolenge?”