Rahul targets PM on Rafale, dares him for a debate

Targetting prime minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday dared him for a public debate on corruption."I am asking for a debate on corruption, let him come and debate with me," Gandhi said addressing a rally at the MMRDA grounds at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai here.

Referring to Modi as "chowkidar" in his speech several times, he said that - "chowkidar chor hi nahi, darpok bhi hai" - and pointed out that in the Parliament, the prime minister has refused to answer the pointed questions of Congress on the Rafale deal.

During the day, Gandhi addressed two rallies - in Dhule in Khandesh-North Maharashtra and Mumbai, during which he spoke on the Rafale issue."Did Anil Ambani make Mirage and Sukhois?, " Gandhi said in the backdrop of the Pulwama terror attacks and India's strike in terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

He wanted to know why the manufacturing contract was given to Anil Ambani's company and not Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. "For years they have been making planes, Anil Ambani cannot even make paper planes," Gandhi said.

Earlier, he paid tributes to the CRPF personnel who died in the Pulwama terror attack and the IAF pilots and airmen who died in Budgam helicopter crash.

Gandhi also said that the demonetisation was a failed exercise. "You stood in a queue outside banks... did Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya stood in queue...while you stood in queue outside banks, they made their black money white," he said.

"Modiji said (before 2014 elections)...do not make me prime minister, make me 'chowkidar'....and once he becomes PM, he puts Rs 30,000 crore in pockets of Anil Ambani," he accused.