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Congress president Rahul Gandhi wrapped up his two-day visit to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh with an attack on PM Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal. Addressing a public meeting at Baikunthpur near Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi challenged Modi to answer questions on the Rafale deal.
Gandhi had kick-started his visited by offering prayers at the famous Kamtanath Temple in Chitrakoot following which he addressed a rally in Satna.
This was Gandhi’s second visit within a span of 10 days to the BJP-ruled state, where Assembly elections are due end of this year.
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi will kick start his two-day visit to the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, 27 September, after offering prayers at the famous Kamta Nath temple in Chitrakoot, a religious town closely associated with Lord Ram.
Here is what the Congress President’s schedule looks like:
Madhya Pradesh has a 230-seat state Assembly.
During the 2013 state elections, the Congress party won a total of 58 seats in the state while the BJP swept 165 seats. But Congress’ performance in Vindhya region (which comprises of Rewa, Satna, Sidhi, Singrauli, Shahdol among others) was commendable. The grand old party won 12 out 30 seats in the region.
Speaking to The Quint, a Congress leader said that the prime focus of Rahul Gandhi’s visit is to concentrate on winning the seats that the party had lost during win the 2013 Assembly polls.
Earlier, it was being speculated that Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party could give strong competition to BJP if they contest the elections together. But Mayawati’s announcement to contest the polls without Congress has put an end to the rumour.
However, the Congress is still hopeful. Congress leader Shobha Oza, who reached Satna for Rahul's rally, said that talks with BSP are underway for a coalition.
Rahul Gandhi started the second leg of his visit to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh from Kamtanath Temple in Chitrakoot.
The 48-year-old Amethi MP was accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath, state party campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia and Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Ajay Singh.
Addressing a rally in Chitrakoot, Rahul Gandhi fiercely attacked PM Modi. He said,
"Congress had waived a debt of Rs 70,000 crore for farmers. But PM Modi did not give anything to the farmers. People voted for him thinking that Modi would give Rs 15 lakh to the poor, farmers and youth of the country, but it did not happen. People just got cheated. "
The Congress president also said that the prime minister had “insulted” Sardar Patel.
“PM Modi has insulted Sardar Patel. Modi ji talks about making a statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat, but the statue is Made in China, just like our shoes and shirts. The Modi government says it offers jobs to 450 youths of India only in 24 hours, while in China 50,000 get jobs.”
Rahul intensified his attack on the prime minister by calling him a thief in reference to the Rafale controversy. The Congress President said that Modi had broken the trust of the youth.
"PM Modi has broken the trust of the youth of the country. Corruption has happened in the case of Rafale deal. The decision has been taken by the prime minister on this deal and the benefit has been received by the prime minister’s friend," he said.
Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Satna, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said:
In his Satna rally, Rahul Gandhi posed a challenge to PM Modi.
Addressing the crowd in Bela, Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi said:
He further promised that the Congress government will be able to attain this.
Gandhi also said that his party is "a combination of experienced leaders and youth" who will work together "to build Madhya Pradesh."
A large crowd has gathered to take part in Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Rewa.
At his roadshow in Rewa, Rahul Gandhi said that when he asked PM Modi his reason for giving Anil Ambani the Rafale deal, the PM could not meet his eye.
He also said that unlike Modi who gives loans “only to 50-20 of his rich friends,” the Congress will open banks for all small and medium enterprises.
On Friday Rahul Gandhi will travel to village Baron, Baikundpur, Chumari and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday, 28 September, dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and come clean on the Rafale fighter plane deal.
Gandhi was addressing a public meeting at Baikunthpur near Rewa in Madhya Pradesh before wrapping up his two-day visit to the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
Gandhi said Modi gives a lot of speeches, adding, "Spare some time to answer these questions. Give your clarification."
He went on to add, "You (PM) won't answer these queries as you have helped your friend Anil Ambani bag a Rs 30,000 crore deal and the country knows that Narendra Modi speaks lies one after another on the stage. And Narendra Modiji's intention is not clear."
Published: 26 Sep 2018,03:20 AM IST