Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi got his entire Cabinet “locked up” before announcing his decision to demonetise high-value currency notes.

Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan, Gandhi claimed he was given this information by members of the Special Protection Group (SPG), the agency which guards him.

“During demonetisation Narendra Modi put his cabinet under lock and key (“taley se band kiya thha) on Race Course Road,” he said, referring to the earlier name of the road on which the PM’s official residence is located.

“This the truth,” Rahul  said. “The SPG people provide me also with security. They told me that do you know that the Prime Minister of India locked up his entire Cabinet,” he said.

He also criticised Modi over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). “Countrymen say Modi committed mistakes by implementing demonetisation and the GST. But Modi will never admit it,” he said. The small and medium industrialists, traders and unemployed youth were adversely affected by demonetisation and GST, he added.

Rahul Gandhi also dared Narendra Modi to a debate, saying he has just “four questions” to ask which the Prime Minister will not be able to answer.

“I am ready to engage in a debate with Modi on corruption at any place,” he said.

“Give me 15 minutes, I will ask only four questions. And Modi may take three-four hours to answer them. He will not be able to show his face to the citizens of the country after the debate,” he added.

Reiterating his allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet contract, Rahul Gandhi said the Government struck an overpriced deal for the jets to benefit industrialist Anil Ambani.

The charge has been repeatedly denied by the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Rahul also ridiculed Modi over his reported remark that he felt the cloud cover on the day IAF struck Balakot will help the fighter aircraft evade Pakistan’s radars.