In his speech during the no-confidence motion, Gandhi, referring to Modi’s alleged ‘links with some businessmen’, says he is not a chowkidar as he once claimed but a bhagidar.
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi walked across the floor of the House and hugged the Prime Minister seconds after he finished his fiesty speech in which he launched an all-out attack on Narendra Modi and his government.
“I am grateful to BJP, PM and RSS for teaching me the meaning of Congress, and of being Indian. Hindu hone ka matlab samjhaya and has told what Shivji stands for,’ said Gandhi, before embracing Modi.
During the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha Friday, the Congress president accused the PM being a “bhagidar” (partner) not a “chowkidar” (guard), and alleged he had links with a few businessmen who received “direct benefits” under his government. Modi himself had said in the past that he was a chowkidar who would guard against corrupt practices.
“The PM must explain and answer in the House whether the Cabinet Committee on Security took this decision, and why this contract was taken away from HAL and given to a businessman for Rs 35,000 crore who has never made a plane in life,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi’s various attacks were met by loud protests from BJP MPs, due to which the house had to be adjourned for a few minutes.
Allegations against defence minister
Gandhi also took on defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, alleging she had lied to the country under pressure from Prime Minister Modi by not revealing the price India is paying for each Rafale fighter jet.
“I personally asked the French President about the Rafale deal, whether there was a secret pact on price between India and France. The French President told me there was no such thing,” he said.
The statement led to ruckus in the House, with BJP members protesting. Sitharaman herself was present in the house and said the secrecy clause because of which this information could not be divulged had been in place since the time of the Congress-led UPA.
He also attacked the PM for his recent trip to China without an agenda. “The PM betrayed the soldiers of this country by not discussing Doklam when he went to China,” he said.
Jumla strikes
Gandhi started his speech by sympathising with TDP leader Jayadev Galla, and accusing the government of making ‘jumla strikes’.
“I feel the pain and anger in your speech. You are a victim of ‘jumla strike’. You are not alone. There are many others who are victims of ‘jumla strike’,” he said.
Defining ‘jumla strike’, Gandhi said: “It brings you a sense of excitement and happiness. Then, there is a feeling of shock. And after that come more speeches.
“The first jumla strike was that Rs 15 lakh will be deposited in every bank account. The second was that two crore youth would get jobs every year.”
Destroyed small businesses
Gandhi accused the government of “destroying small businessmen” with demonetisation and GST. “I went to Surat and met businessmen, and they told me the government has destroyed them completely,” he said.
BJP members also protested when Gandhi took spoke about the allegations against the son of a top party leader.
Read in Hindi: राहुल गांधी ने भाषण के दौरान मोदी पर लगाये गंभीर आरोप, फिर लगाया गले