Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Congress on Sunday, accusing the party of aligning with elements that don't want India's forces to become stronger. Addressing a rally in Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Modi attacked the Congress over its comments on India's defence services. "There are some who paddle only lies. To them the defence ministry, officers of the Air Force, the government of France, and even the Supreme Court appear to be lying," he said.
The PM said the Congress called the army chief a "gunda", and even went to the extent of questioning the surgical strikes. "There are two facets before the country. One is of the government that's trying to augment the strength of its defence. The second are forces that are trying to weaken the nation. Congress is siding with the latter. The nation is witness to it," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been on the front foot over the Rafale issue since Friday, after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking investigations into the Rs 59,000 crore aircraft deal. By spreading canards about a transparent deal, the Congress is playing with national security, Modi said.
Emphasising that India has needed modern aircraft since the Kargil conflict, the PM said, "After Atalji's government, Congress ruled India for 10 years. But it didn't strengthen our Air Force."
In 2009, he said, 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets were demanded, but it wasn't met. "In 2016, our government purchased 50,000 bulletproof jackets for the armed forces. This year, a further order for 1.86 lakh jackets was also placed," he said.
He also mocked the Congress for being involved with defence middlemen like "Quattrocchi mama" and "Christian Michel uncle". "The party is agitated after Michel was extradited. Everybody saw how Congress sent lawyers to save him. I want to know why is the party so agitated and why is it spreading canards about Rafale. Is it because there is no Quattrocchi mama or Christian Michel in the deal done by our government?" he asked.
The Congress also systematically neglected farmers during its regime, he said, insisting that his government is working towards doubling farmers' income by 2022. Rae Bareli was neglected for so long despite being the constituency of its long-term president Sonia Gandhi, he said.
The PM also flagged off the 900th coach and Humsafar rake made by the Modern Coach Factory in Rai Bareli. "This factory was sanctioned in 2007 and was built in 2010. For four years, parts of the coach from Kapurthala were assembled and painted here. The factory that was supposed to make new coaches was never allowed to work at full capacity," he said.
Expansion of the factory will drive employment and fuel small and medium industries in the town, he said.
Thereafter, Modi also laid the foundation stones of some projects and inaugurated a few others worth Rs 1,100 crore. "Our government is committed to the development of Rae Bareli," he said.
After Rae Bareli, Modi went to Prayagraj and performed a Ganga Pujan at the Sangam Ghat, before inaugurating a command and control centre for the Kumbh Mela. In Prayagraj, he also inaugurated key projects related to the cleaning of the Ganges and the beautification of the ghats. Calling Prayagraj the "temple of justice", he said, "In recent times, the game of building pressure on the judiciary has started. In such a situation, it is essential to alert the nation. Their actions, their conspiracies are proving it again and again that they consider themselves above the country, democracy, judiciary and public. Stay alert and safe from such parties," Modi said, capping off his criticism of the Congress.
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