Rafale deal: In Karnataka’s Bidar, Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Narendra Modi to debate

Rahul said the previous UPA government had signed the contract so that public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited could make the aircraft through technology transfer and create employment for the youth of Karnataka. “One day Narendra Modi goes to France and changes terms of the contract. My dear young people, Modiji has taken away your jobs from you. If he has the guts, a 56-inch chest, bring your (the BJP’s) prime minister in front of me, in front of the country.”

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India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September last year for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. Rahul has been alleging that the cost of Rafale jets was inflated under the new terms of the contract.

In an interactive meeting with self-help groups at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad , Rahul took a jibe at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, saying that a one -family government was in power in the state. “In Telangana, a one-family government is in power and that family gets all the benefits. Farmers’ lands are being taken away in the name of development,” he said.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao responded, “Rahul Gandhi needs to grow up and mature. Due to his immature talk and behaviour, he is becoming an asset to rival parties. Instead of reading speeches prepared by someone he should verify his facts and speak.”

With PTI inputs