lok-sabha-elections

Updated: May 03, 2020 00:25 IST

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday threw a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a 15-minute debate on corruption alleging malfeasance in the Rafale deal with France.

Gandhi, who was in Rae Bareli, said, “I challenge Mr Narendra Modi to a 15-minute debate on corruption in the Race Course Road (now renamed as the Lok Kalyan Marg, where the official residence of the prime minister is situated) or anywhere else. Open debate on corruption one-on-one between Mr Narendra Modi and me. We will talk over corruption. I am telling you Mr Narendra Modi won’t be able to face the nation after this.”

“Mr Narendra Modi, come and take the challenge…Don’t be scared,” said Gandhi with his supporters shouting “chowkidar chor hai” behind him.

This came when journalists asked Gandhi about his reply in the Supreme Court over his remark attributing ‘chowkidar chor hai’ quote to the top court. Gandhi expressed regret in the apex court for wrong attribution.

Gandhi, earlier this month had said, “Now the Supreme Court has made it clear that ‘chowkidarji’ (watchman) has committed a theft… I want to directly challenge that the Supreme Court has stated that you have indulged in corruption.”

He was referring to the Supreme Court ruling allowing three “leaked” documents cited by petitioners seeking a review of the apex court judgment of December 2018. The top court had then rejected a plea seeking probe into the Rafale deal.

The government had opposed admissibility of the documents cited by the petitioners on the ground that they were protected under the Official Secrets Act. But the apex court overruled the government’s objection.

Meanwhile, Gandhi took to Twitter to take yet another dig at PM Modi. “On May 23, it will be decided in the court of people that Lotus-marked chowkidar is the thief. Justice will be done. Chowkidar who looted money from the poor to give it to his rich friends will be punished,” Gandhi wrote on the micro-blogging site.

May 23 is the day for counting of votes polled in all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections that began on April 11 and will continue till May 19. Lotus is the election symbol of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.