AAP opened Delhi doors for Modi: Rahul Gandhi

In a direct attack on Aam Aadmi Party, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Arvind Kejriwal's fledgling outfit of opening the doors of the national capital for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul's attack came after a long courtship between the AAP and the Congress for a pre-poll alliance failed with both the parties deciding to contest all the seven seats in the national capital.

“Remember the slogans in the previous elections? 'Arvind Kejriwal ko Delhi ka CM, Narendra Modi ko Hindustan ka PM,” the Congress President said.

“It was AAP that opened the doors of the national capital for Narendra Modi,” Rahul said addressing a rally in East Delhi, where Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely is locked in a triangular contest with Gautam Gambhir of BJP and Atishi Marlena of AAP.

He said it was only the Congress that had challenged Modi. “You will not hear 'chowkidar chor hai' slogans in AAP offices,” Rahul said.

The Congress President attacked Modi for twin policies of demonetisation and faulty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, which had hit the informal sector hard.

He promised to simplify the GST procedures and assured the youth to ease the numerous permissions required to start small business.

"We trust you. We know you are not crooks. We will break the handcuffs that Modi has put on you to help you start new businesses," the Congress President said.

Rahul's 30-minute speech was interspersed with slogans of 'chowkidar chor hai' by enthusiastic party workers gathered at the Ram Lila Grounds in Geeta Colony locality in East Delhi.

Rahul stressed that the Congress candidate – Lovely – was a local leader as against the “outsiders” fielded by rival political outfits.

Lovely, who hails from Gandhinagar locality of East Delhi, was a minister in the Delhi government and headed the Delhi Congress for a brief period.