This Article is From Jul 20, 2018

"PM Is Not A Chowkidar But Bhaagidaar": Rahul Gandhi on Rafale Deal

No-trust motion: Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the PM cannot "look me in the eye"

No-trust motion: Congress's Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal

New Delhi:

Rahul Gandhi, in an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the no-trust debate in parliament today, said, "You cannot look me in the eye."

Targeting the Prime Minister on the Rafale deal and what he described as "jumla (lies) strikes", the Congress president said: "I can see he (PM Modi) is smiling but there is a touch of nervousness. He is looking away from me."

As he repeated his comment, PM Modi was seen smiling and looking directly at the Congress president.

The Congress leader alleged a scam in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal with France. He alleged that PM Modi's government finalised the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets with the French government at a higher price at a loss to the taxman to favour "a businessman".

"Everybody understands the relationship the prime minister has with certain business people," Mr Gandhi said.

"Everybody can see the amount of money that goes into the marketing of India's prime minister," he added.

"Chowkidar nahin hain, bhaagidaar hain (he is no watchman, he is a beneficiary."

Chaos erupted over his comments and his sharpest ever attack on the prime minister.

The Congress chief referred to the BJP's promise of Rs. 15 lakh to every Indian and termed it as "Jumla strike number one".

The lack of jobs, he said, was "jumla strike 2".

He also targeted PM Modi on his foreign policy, accusing him of not raising the Doklam standoff during his 'without-agenda' China visit.

When ruling party MPs slammed him and accused him of making "unsubstantiated allegations", he retorted saying "daro mat, daro mat...sach se daro mat" (don't be afraid of the truth).

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