Modi terms Rahul's 'woman' jibe' ''insulting''

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's reported remarks on the debate over Rafale in Lok Sabha that he (Modi) ''hid behind a woman'' as an ''insult'' to the women of the country.

Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Agra town, about 350 kilometre from here, the prime minister heaped praise on Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

''This woman, who shoulders the responsibility to protect the country, took the wind out of the opposition leader's ( Rahul) sails... She exposed their lies.... Her rivals were so frustrated that they insulted her,'' Modi said.

''Nirmala Sitharaman's insult is the insult of the women of the country and those, who have done, will have to pay a very heavy price for the same,'' he remarked.

The minister's retort came within hours after Rahul's reported remarks at a rally in Rajasthan.

Rahul and Nirmala were involved in a verbal duel over the Rafale deal.

Modi also referred to the AugustaWestland chopper scam and claimed that the Congress was trying to provide legal assistance to Christen Michel as it feared that the latter could ''expose'' its leaders.

''The Opposition thought that Modi would be like other politicians and forget their deeds but it did not happen.... We are committed to catch the wrong doers,'' he said.