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Soni Mishra
Soni Mishra

REACTION

Rahul picks holes in PM's speech, questions his silence on Rafale deal

rahul-gandhi-jacket (File) Congress president Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “political speech” in Parliament, and questioned the prime minister's silence on allegations of corruption in the deal to purchase Rafale fighters from France. The Congress chief further asked PM Modi why the latter didn't say anything on farmers' issues or the problem of unemployment in his 'motion of thanks' address.

“The prime minister spoke for more than one hour, but he did not say a word about the Rafale deal. He made a political speech, a campaign speech. But he did not say anything on the issues before the country, such as employment or farmers' issues,” Rahul told reporters.

Modi, in his speech, launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying the country has suffered because of the party's “wrong policies” in the last 70 years.

In line with the Congress upping the ante on allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal, Rahul slammed the government for refusing to reveal the price finalised for purchase of the aircraft. “It is the biggest deal. It is the spine of the Indian Air Force. But the defence minister says 'we will not tell. It is our secret',” he said.

Rahul asked the prime minister to come clean on whether the deal was altered or not, and if the price at which it is being bought has been enhanced from what was negotiated earlier. “The country has to understand. The prime minister had spoken about ending corruption in the country, and there is corruption in the Rafale deal and the prime minister is protecting those who have indulged in corruption,” he said.

Rahul attacked PM Modi over his election promise of providing jobs to two crore youth, saying only about 450 persons get jobs in a day. He also criticised Modi on farmers' issues, saying the PM did not say anything on giving them the right price for their crops or waiving their loans. “Rather, the prime minister is talking about honeybees and bamboo,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi reacted to Modi's speech by saying he has not said anything new. “The PM said nothing new. He is repeating old things. People are interested in jobs,” she said.

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