Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, comparing India’s successful space launches in recent years to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s political career, took a dig at the latter and said, “Rahulyaan has neither been launched nor has it landed anywhere.”
Campaigning for Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Anil Antony in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, the defence minister said while various space programmes and projects were being launched in the country, "the launching of Congress' young leader has not happened for the last 20 years". "The Congress party's 'Rahulyaan' has neither been launched nor has it landed anywhere," he said.
Singh said Rahul Gandhi is not contesting from the Amethi seat fearing defeat. “He does not have the courage to stand from there this time,” he said. The defence minister added Gandhi migrated to Kerala after his defeat in Amethi. “However, I have heard that the people of Wayanad have decided not to make him their MP.”
The defence minister praised his predecessor Congress stalwart A.K. Antony and called him a disciplined and principled person whose honesty and integrity cannot be questioned. However, the former minister should bless his son for victory in this election, Singh said.
"I know he is a principled person and I understand his compulsions. It is difficult for him to support Anil Antony. However, I would like to tell him that Anil is his son. You may not vote for him (Anil) or canvass votes for him, but you are his father so I would like to request that your blessings should be with him," Singh said.
The Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be held on April 26 and the results will be declared on June 4.
-with PTI inputs.
