Rafale deal will sink Modi govt, says Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur: AICC general secretary and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, saying the Rafale fighter jet deal will “sink” the Modi government.

Mr Gehlot claimed that Mr Modi’s popularity graph has come down and looking at the prime minister’s previous speeches, the Congress does not even need to campaign because ‘things have been exposed now’.

“The Rafale deal will sink the Modi government,” Mr Gehlot said at a press conference.

Mr Gehlot said the tender was “snatched” from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for manufacturing Rafale fighter jets and this was an “insult” to HAL employees.

“When we visited the HAL office, we saw tears rolling downs from employees. Former employees too said that this was an insult to HAL,” said Mr Gehlot.

Mr Gehlot also attacked Mr Modi on issues of price rise among others. “Inflation increased, rupee devalued and his promises fell flat. Compare the speeches of Modi made earlier and now, I assure that the Congress will not need to campaign in the country,” he said.

Mr Gehlot said despite Mr Modi becoming the prime minister after his party got a huge mandate in 30 years, the promises were ‘not fulfilled’.

On Mr Modi’s allegations about neglecting contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose, Mr Gehlot said Bose is respected all over the country. He said it took several years for the BJP to remember Bose after his sacrifice.