Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Narendra Modi for his 'silence' on Rafale jet deal

VISAVADAR: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday reached out to the Patidars and attacked PM Modi for his silence on the Rafale jet deal.

Gandhi addressed a rally at Visavadar in Junagadh district after offering prayers at the shrine of Lord Shiva in the afternoon in Gir Somnath district. Referring to the 2015 quota stir in which 14 members of the Patidar community were killed in police firing, Gandhi said if anyone raises his voice he either gets beaten up or has to face bullets in Gujarat.

“All the communities are raising their voice here against the government. But what do you get if you raise your voice in Gujarat? You are beaten up, you have to face bullets.”

“I asked Modiji three questions (on the Rafale deal). First, is there a difference in the cost of the planes in the first and the second contract (signed with a French firm), please give the reply in yes or no. Why was the contract given to a private industrialist friend instead of Hindustan Aeronautics limited? And did you seek the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security for the deal?” Gandhi asked.

“Narendra Modiji is not replying to these questions because he wants that the truth of Rafale and Jay Shah (son of BJP chief Amit Shah) should not come out before the people ahead of the Gujarat elections,” he said.