'Chowkidar' will be in jail after elections, says Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur

Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the Rafale fighter jet purchase deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that ‘chowkidar’ would be behind bars after Lok Sabha Elections 2019. "I am telling you, inquiry will be initiated after elections...and the other chowkidar will be in jail," Gandhi said.

Claiming that the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar knew there was corruption in Rafale deal, the Congress president said the deal would be probed if his party comes to power at the Centre.

"The defence ministry document states Narendra Modi changed it (the original contract) and purchased (each) jet for Rs 1,600 crore," Gandhi said.

"The chowkidar committed theft. The then defence minister (late Parrikar), when asked by the media, said I don't know about the new deal, you directly ask Narendra Modi, I don't know about it. Because Parrikar knew corruption had taken place and (thought) someone will get trapped," Gandhi said.

Hitting out at industrialist Anil Ambani, Gandhi 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.

"Why should Anil Ambani get the Rafale contract and why not somebody from Vidarbha (region where the poll rally was held)," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader 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," Gandhi said.

He did not lie since lies get exposed sooner or later, the Congress president said, adding that his party works while the BJP "only makes hollow promises".

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.

With PTI Inputs