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Rahul Gandhi Wraps up MP Tour, Attacks PM Modi on Rafale Deal

Rahul Gandhi wrapped up his visit to Madhya Pradesh with an attack on PM Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal.

The Quint
Politics
Updated:
Rahul Gandhi attends rally in Satna during his MP visit.
i
Rahul Gandhi attends rally in Satna during his MP visit.
(Photo Courtesy: Congress/Twitter)

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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.

  • Attacking PM Modi on Rafale in MP’s Baikunthpur, Rahul Gandhi said, “Why did you facilitate the deal for a company indebted with Rs 45,000 crore?”
  • Speaking to a crowd in Bela, Rahul Gandhi said that his party will ensure that farmers can say, “Their government works for them”
  • Rahul Gandhi promised in Rewa that the Congress will open banks for all small and medium enterprises

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Rahul Gandhi's Visit to Poll-Bound MP

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:

  • Gandhi will reach Chitrakoot from Allahabad by a helicopter and start his tour of Rewa and Satna districts.
  • The Congress president would address a meeting at Chitrakoot before leaving for Satna, where he is scheduled to address a public gathering, Gupta said.
  • Later in the evening, the Congress chief will leave for Rewa, where he will hold a roadshow, he said.
  • On Friday, Gandhi would travel by a bus to address public meetings at Saipur Mod, Baron, Baikunthpur, Lalgaon and Chunari villages spread over Rewa and Satna, reported PTI.
  • Party state president Kamal Nath and other senior party leaders, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijaya Singh and Ajay Singh, would accompany Gandhi during his visit.

Why is Rahul Gandhi's Visit Important?

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.

Strong Mayawati Factor in MP, But Congress Hopeful

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 Kicks Off Madhya Pradesh Visit From Kamta Nath Temple

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.

Rahul Gandhi Addresses Public Rally in Chitrakoot

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. "

PM Modi Has Insulted Sardar Patel: Rahul Gandhi

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.”

PM has Cheated the People With the Rafale Deal

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.

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Rahul Gandhi's Supporters Await his Arrival in Satna

Rahul Gandhi’s supporters await him in Satna. (Photo Courtesy: Neeraj Gupta/The Quint)

Watch: Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in MP's Satna

Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Satna, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said:

“When people saw Sachin Tendulkar, they used to say that the ‘Run Machine’ has come. When Shivraj Singh Chouhan comes, people say a ‘<i>ghoshna</i> (announcement) machine’ has arrived. And when Narendra Modi comes, then people say that a ‘lying machine’ has arrived.”
Rahul Gandhi in Satna

Rahul Challenges PM Modi to Say "Why He Gave The Rafale Deal to Ambani"

In his Satna rally, Rahul Gandhi posed a challenge to PM Modi.

“I challenge PM Modi to share in any of his speeches why he gave the Rafale deal to Ambani who was already reeling under a debt worth Rs 45,000 crore.”

We Will Ensure Farmers Can Say Their Govt Works for Them: Rahul in Bela

Addressing the crowd in Bela, Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi said:

“We want that every farmer should be able to say my government understands the tear on my hands and the ache in my heart. My government will work for me.”
Rahul Gandhi in Satna.(Photo Courtesy: Neeraj Gupta/The Quint)

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."

Rahul's Roadshow in Rewa Attracts a Huge Crowd

(Photo Courtesy: Congress/Twitter)Rohal Gandhi addresses roadshow in Rewa.

A large crowd has gathered to take part in Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Rewa.

Cong Will Open Banks for All Small & Medium Enterprises: Rahul 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.

Rahul to Visit Baron, Baikundpur, Chumari and Bhopal Tomorrow

Rahul’s Friday itenary.(Photo: The Quint)

On Friday Rahul Gandhi will travel to village Baron, Baikundpur, Chumari and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi Challenges PM Modi to Answer Questions on Rafale

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.

Now, I throw a challenge to Narendra Modiji. Answer these questions. The French president who signed Rafale deal with you is saying that you helped Anil Ambani to get the deal. Why did you facilitate the deal for a company indebted with Rs 45,000 crore? Why did you buy a fighter aircraft for Rs 1,600 crore which cost Rs 526 crore?
Rahul Gandhi

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."

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Published: 26 Sep 2018,03:20 AM IST

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