On day one of his visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi continued his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Rafale fighter aircraft deal on Monday.
“It is unfortunate that the ‘chowkidar’ of a country has robbed the people to facilitate his industrialist friend. The PM goes to France and awards this private company a contract of crores of rupees. People want to know from the ‘chowkidar’ why he did so,” Gandhi said while addressing a public meeting at Jais in Amethi.
“The ‘chowkidar’ of the country has taken out Rs 20,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, martyrs and jawans and put it in the pocket of Ambani,” Gandhi alleged.
Referring to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that the Centre had nothing to hide, Rahul asked, “If they have nothing to hide then why are they afraid of announcing a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter?”
The Congress chief said that the PM delivered long speeches but avoided a word on Rafale or the company which was given the contract.
“Former President of France had insulted the Indian PM by terming him as a thief. Modi should hit back but he did not utter a word,” he pointed out.
Recalling a debate in Parliament on Rafale deal, Rahul said, “The PM could not look me in the eye. Modiji only gives speeches but has no answers. In fact, he does not have the courage to give reply.”
“Under the BJP government, farmers and poor are crying. The present government is providing all benefits to selected five to ten people. People like Anil Ambani, Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi are getting all benefits,” he said.
Earlier, on his arrival at Amethi, Rahul Gandhi was accorded a warm welcome by Congress workers and leaders with slogans of ‘Bam Bhole’ and recitation of hymns. Gandhi had recently visited Kailash Mansarovar to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.
Rahul met some kanwariyas and garlanded a photo of Lord Shiva on the dais. With a scarf around his neck, he took part in ‘puja’ performed amid chanting of mantras.
The entire Amethi town was dotted with banners and hoarding of Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Kailash Mansarovar. Amethi was decorated with flowers and large hoardings were put up to welcome the local MP for his first visit after returning from Mansarovar.
A ‘bhandara’ and a grand welcome have been organised in Musafirkhana in view of Rahul’s visit to Amethi after his pilgrimage. Several hoardings have also been put up on highways and other places welcoming Gandhi as a ‘Shiv Bhakt’.
This is Rahul’s first visit to Amethi after the arduous 12-day pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, considered the abode of Lord Shiva.
Meanwhile, Gandhi inaugurated the office of Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas project at Nigoha village in Bahadurpur area and later inaugurated mobile power transporters at Jais. He also spoke to gram pradhans at Jamo block and heard their problems.
Rahul will stay at Forest Guest House at Musafirkhana in the night.
On Monday morning, on his way to Amethi from CCS airport at Amausi in Lucknow, Rahul was given a rousing reception at the airport by the UP Congress leaders , including state president Raj Babbar.
On Tuesday, Gandhi will attend the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting and thereafter return to Delhi in the afternoon.
