Daijiworld Media Network – Nagpur (AM)

Nagpur, Apr 5: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, April 4 said that Rafale deal would be probed if his party comes to power at the Centre.

Addressing a campaign rally, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the fighter jet purchase deal, which resulted in price increase. He said, “I am telling you, inquiry will be initiated after elections...and the other chowkidar will be in jail.”

Rahul said that the defence ministry document states Narendra Modi changed the original contract and purchased each jet for Rs 1,600 crore.

He also slammed industrialist Anil Ambani and said Ambani had no money, no expertise in defence manufacturing and all his businesses had failed. "Despite this, Anil Ambani got the biggest defence contract (under the Rafale deal). His brother saved him from going to jail," he said.

Rahul asserted that he was in politics for the long haul and ‘here for another 10 to 15 years’."I want to build a long-standing relationship with you. I will not speak lies. Modi has grown old and is in a hurry. So he is telling lies," he said.

He said that he did not lie since lies gets exposed sooner or later, adding that Congress works while the BJP only makes hollow promises.

Rahul also spoke about ‘Nyay’ minimum income guarantee scheme of his party. "The ‘Nyay’ scheme is a surgical strike by Congress on poverty. Every Indian should get a minimum of Rs 12,000 every month," he said, adding the Congress government will provide enough funds for the scheme.

He reiterated his challenge to PM Modi to take part in a 15-minute open debate on corruption, economy and national security with him.

Polling will be held in Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency in the first phase on April 11. Union minister Nitin Gadkari of the BJP is pitted against Congress'' Nana Patole.