Chowkidar Modi opened Rafale door for Ambani: Rahul

Adding fuel to the chowkidar debate, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday charged that "chowkidar" Narendra Modi opened the door of the Rafale deal to help Anil Ambani steal Rs. 30,000 crore in the Rafale deal.

"Our (UPA) government had fixed the Rafale deal with France at Rs. 526 crore per fighter jet. It was decided to give the contract to HAL having 70 years of experience in defence equipment business. But after Modiji became the Prime Minister, he went to France and said I am the chowkidar of India and will open the door of Rafale deal to increase the price to Rs. 1,600 crore per fighter plane. He introduced Anil Ambani and asked the France company to pay Rs. 30,000 crore to him. Now when the stealing has been caught, Modiji is saying hum saab chowkidar hai (we all are chowkidars). Why are you making us all chowkidars, when you stole such huge sum?" Rahul said addressing a rally at Indira Gandhi Park in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar.

The frontier state, sharing border with China, is going for elections to 60-member Assembly and two Lok Sabha members together on April 11.

Rahul said Modi was acting as chowkidar of the country to handover all government contracts to 15 to 20 businessmen, including Ambani and Adani. "He has given insurance contract in Jammu and Kashmir to Ambani. He has also given contract of six airports to Adani, on the day when Pulwama attack happened. He has destroyed the small and medium scale business by note ban and GST and is giving bank loans to these chors (thieves) only," Rahul said.

Citizenship bill and special status

Gandhi assured voters in Arunachal Pradesh, if voted to power, Congress would restore the special category state status to all states of the Northeast, restore the Northeast Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy and will never bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. "The moment i came to know people in the Northeast are scared that the bill will threaten their identity, i decided to stop it in the Rajya Sabha. Let me assure you today that Congress party will never bring such bill. We will protect your unique culture, language and history because unlike BJP and RSS, Congress party does not want one ideology to prevail on everyone in the country. BJP and RSS is a dangerous threat to your culture and identity," Rahul said.

BJP chief Amit Shah recently said here that they would bring the bill again, after Modi government gets its second term.

Rahul will address similar rallies in Manipur and Tripura on Wednesday.